New Bedford’s Coggeshall Cluster Caused by Traffic Courtesy Issues

Ever wonder why there's so much road rage these days? There's a simple solution to it all.

As New Bedford braces for the long haul of the massive I-195 construction project, side roads across the city are feeling the strain, and nowhere more than Coggeshall Street.

With Route 18 exits completely shut down on both the eastbound and westbound sides, commuters are spilling into neighborhood streets as detours, funneling into already congested routes. For drivers heading toward Route 18, that’s translated into bumper-to-bumper backups stretching from Ashley Boulevard to the Fairhaven line.

A Daily Grind for Commuters

For many New Bedford residents, including myself, the project’s promised “two-year timeline” has already brought weeks of stressful gridlock. Beyond the sheer volume of cars, there’s another factor making the problem worse: a lack of basic driving courtesy.

Time and again, motorists are blocking side streets, gas station entrances, and small business driveways along Coggeshall. What should be a steady crawl of traffic becomes a standstill when drivers refuse to leave gaps for others to turn. Something as simple as allowing space for cars to enter or exit McDonald’s or a service station could actually help keep traffic flowing.

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A Call for Common Sense

This isn’t about engineering or infrastructure; it’s about everyday choices behind the wheel. Giving up a few feet of space may feel like surrendering progress in a jam-packed commute, but it can have a ripple effect that benefits everyone.

READ MORE: New Bedford’s 10 Most Dangerous Intersections

Allowing openings at intersections and driveways isn’t just polite. It’s common sense, common knowledge, and frankly, common courtesy that could help ease what I'm dubbing the “Coggeshall Cluster" of 2025.

As MassDOT pushes forward with its construction timeline, drivers can’t control the detours, the lane closures, or the heavy machinery. What we can control is how we navigate the chaos together. A little patience, and a little space, might just keep New Bedford moving.