East-West Connector
The past week with the 100th flight and 10,000 passenger, I have heard alot of talk about how we need an East-West Connector. First of all it would cost millions. Second if we are going to rely on Mass Highway, it will not happen in our lifetime just drive over Airport Drive to see how fast they work.
How about the Mass Pike??? Put an exit onto Route 56, there is plenty of land for exits ramps in both directions. You would need to build out Route 56, but you could do that with very little in land takings since most of the buildings on Route 56 are far off the street and run the road right to the airport?
Far-fetched--yeah maybe, but there is much better chance of this happening then an East-West Connector across the City of Worcester. Not to mention this would greatly alleviate the traffic flow across the City since many people West of the City would be able to get onto Route 56 with a straight shot to the Mass Pike and would not have to fight traffic across the City of Worcester.
4 comments:
With or without ORH, Worcester badly needs an east-west artery. Try to get from Paxton to UMass at 800 am in the morning or from Holden to downtown. It will HAVE to happen sooner or later.
Why build an access road so far to the west? To save money, maybe? The biggest growth in our catchment area will be to the east/495 area and not in the more rural, western towns. An access road should be properly placed to allow easy access to the greatest number of potential ORH customers as well as facilitate east -west travel in the city.
If an access road is necessary for ORH success, it is high time that our pols line up behind it. As for the land takings and displacement of residents...when 290 was punched through the City, 23 homes in the Burncoat St area were taken and many more in other sections of the city.
It is high time some of our so called political leaders started leading the cause instead of cow towing to a handful of obstructionist residents.
Also, I might add, some of these same pols have no problem when Clark Univ or HC decides to demolish entire city blocks in the name of academic/non profit growth.
Take a ride over to Beaver/Florence St and check out the pile of rubble that used to be 19 taxable dwellings units and a body shop.
The same fate awaits College Hill. Just read the T&G. Instead of academic expansion it's euphemistically referred to (and I paraphrase) as The Cambridge St/ Southbridge St Corridor Improvement District.
How about some linkage improvements from HC in exchange for deep sixing another city neighborhood? E.g. How about a tunnel/bridge at Southbridge & Cambridge. We'll even let HC paint it Purple. Hey is the Rte 146 project painted Purple to match HC's colors???? What's a few million from HC's endowment fun.
Clark can also ante up for wiping out all the taxable property the Gardner-Kilby and Beaver-Florence area...in the name of Urban renewal...translation: we need a new athletic facility and new campus buildings.
What say you up there on the Mt. St James drumlin? Has that endowment fund reached a Billion yet? Likewise Mr. Foley ???? Take a lesson from Mr Buffet.
JAHN:
Love your comments. Let me clarify one thing--I do not see an exit on to Route 56 from the Mass Pike as an access road to the airport, although it could be..
There is a huge amount of congestion in the City of Worcester from people west of the city trying to get across the city, just look at Webster Square and Tatnuck Square every morning. An entrance/exit onto the MassPike on Route 56 would divert much of this traffic.
In addition the added toll revenue would pay for the road.
You are not the first people to have these discussions.
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