New Bedford Golf Course Redevelopment Requires Full Hathaway Road Traffic Study

As plans advance for the redevelopment of the Whaling City Golf Course in New Bedford, concerns continue to mount about how the project might impact traffic on an already stressed Hathaway Road.

Why Hathaway Road Traffic Is a Concern

"A full traffic study examining the entire Hathaway Road corridor – from the old Building 19 to Route 6 in Dartmouth – is required," New Bedford Public Information Officer Jonathan Darling said. "That study will examine the current and projected traffic situations, and outline solutions – such as traffic lights, etc. – to manage the increase in vehicles, which will likely take place gradually over several years."

Details of the Advanced Manufacturing Campus Proposal

The City is looking to sell 95 acres of golf course property for private development. The project would include a high-tech business park known as an Advanced Manufacturing Campus and a reconfigured 19-hole golf course.

Boston's Charter Development Company's $1.85 million proposal for an Advanced Manufacturing Campus was pushed ahead by the New Bedford City Council's Property Committee, clearing the way for the Mitchell Administration to enter into negotiations for a purchase-and-sale agreement.

READ MORE: City of New Bedford_Advanced Manufacturing Campus_February 2026

Economic Impact of an Advanced Manufacturing Campus in New Bedford

Charter Development Co. proposed a two-phased project that could create between 800 and 1,000 permanent jobs and 650 to 800 construction jobs. The project could generate some $2.5 million in annual property taxes for New Bedford and draw an additional $500 million in private investment.

"The Advanced Manufacturing Campus would offer the City an opportunity to expand its commercial tax base and create higher-paying jobs," Mayor Jon Mitchell said.

Mayor Mitchell Confident Traffic Can Be "Mitigated"

"The project's impact on traffic must be studied closely, but I am confident that it can be mitigated," he said. "Hathaway Road, after all, carried a larger volume of traffic when Cinema 140 and Rosie's were in their heyday nearby."

READ MORE: New Bedford Manufacturing Campus Presentation to City Council

Mitchell argues that Hathaway Road is the optimal location for the Advanced Manufacturing Campus. "With immediate access to the highway and close proximity to the airport, intercity rail, and the Port of New Bedford, the site is attractive for development," he said.