DARTMOUTH — The most dangerous intersection in Dartmouth is one step closer to finally getting a much-discussed improvement, as state transportation officials are holding a public hearing next week to unveil the project design.

A handout from MassDOT notes that officials will hold the design hearing for the Route 6 corridor improvement project at Dartmouth Town Hall at 6 p.m. on March 29.

Under discussion will be the stretch of Route 6 that goes from Faunce Corner Road past Tucker Road to Hathaway Road, widely reviled as the worst spots in the area for traffic and crashes.

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Plans to fix the misaligned intersections go back at least as far as 2010, according to an article from the Standard-Times' Curt Brown reporting Select Board members bemoaning the "chaotic" traffic.

A project to improve the area by reconfiguring the Tucker Road intersection, adding a traffic light at Hathaway Road and coordinating all the lights was initiated with the state transportation agency in 2014.

Meanwhile Dartmouth officials appropriated $150,000 for their own redesign at last October's Town Meeting to explore aligning Tucker and Hathaway Roads instead.

 

According to the MassDOT handout, the aim of next week's hearing is to fully acquaint members of the public with the proposed plans, answer questions, and allow for public input on the project.

"All views and comments made at the hearing will be reviewed and considered to the maximum extent possible," the handout reads.

MassDOT's proposal includes adding 10.5-foot side paths along both sides of Route 6, which would involve securing a right-of-way and possibly acquiring land or easements from current residents.

The agency's land acquisition policy will also be discussed at the hearing, the handout notes.

The $11.5 million project is expected to begin construction in the winter of 2024-2025, according to the MassDOT project website.

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