Dartmouth Select Board and Dartmouth Police address Route 6 traffic

Nearly nine months after the Massachusetts Department of Transportation planned to begin construction to address Route 6 traffic, congestion issues continue to persist. 

Now, the town has begun taking matters into their own hands, including increasing policing on Route 6 to prevent people from blocking intersections.

During a Select Board meeting on Monday, Nov. 17, Select Board members and Chief of Police Brian Levesque discussed potential solutions to lesson traffic on Route 6.

Levesque confirmed that there has been increased policing on Route 6 to try and prevent people from blocking intersections by running lights, but this could be making the problem worse. To pull cars over, police have to use the surrounding parking lots, which upsets the businesses. 

“We’ve had about 300 motor vehicle stops right in that area each year for the last two years, or 600 altogether,” said Levesque. 

One reason for this is that the left turn between Faunce Corner Mall Road and Tucker Road has poor visibility and people will turn without realizing traffic is already backed up. 

He suggested that some solutions could include repainting the breakdown lane by A&A Jewelers to be a right turn lane, as that is what drivers currently use it as, which is preventing some traffic build up.

Select Board member Shawn McDonald pointed out that there are a few solutions that could be done to improve the situation. He agreed with extending the right lane by A&A Jewelers, allowing some lanes to turn right on red and stopping trucks from traveling on Tucker Road, painting “Do Not Block” by the traffic light on Tucker Road and improving the traffic light system. 

All Select Members agreed that the lighting system needed improving. McDonald suggested installing a magnetic plate that would communicate when traffic starts to back up from one light to another. The town’s engineer and consultant has agreed to do a study about the traffic light patterns to see how to improve them. 

“Maybe [the Massachusetts Department of Transportation] don’t want to make the investments [for short term solutions] because they have bigger plans, but the problem is that the plan is taking too long,” said McDonald. “And we’re suffering now on a daily basis with this issue.”

John Goggin with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation said the department has a project planned for the summer of 2026 to improve some of these traffic issues. The project is estimated to cost $12,633,881.69. 

The department will be adding a new traffic light on the intersection between Route 6 and Hathaway Road and introducing a coordinated signal system between Faunce Corner Mall Road and Hathaway Road. 

The intersection of Route 6, Tucker Road and Champion Terrace will be reconfigured for additional storage length on Route 6 toward Tucker Road. Champion Terrace will be restricted to a “right in, right out” movement system. 

Longer turn lanes will be incorporated on the corridor. Sidewalks will be widened to 8 feet to allow for pedestrians and bikers to use them. Utility poles will be moved. Drainage will be improved to the maximum extent practicable. 

People have raised concerns at Zoning Board meetings about the potential traffic that the proposed Residences at Hawthorne housing development would add. Concerns include the fact that the Residences at Hawthorne could affect Slocum and Tucker Road, especially when there are sporting events.

There have also been concerns mentioned online with the recent Chick-fil-A opening and how the new business has added traffic to Faunce Corner Mall Road. 

A proposed gas station, which would be at 411 Faunce Corner Mall Road, should not affect traffic, according to the project attorney. Zoning Board of Appeals member Halim Choubah agrees, feeling that it may even reduce traffic on the road. 

The Select Board, Dartmouth police department and Department of Public Works are currently working on scheduling a meeting with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to figure out short term solutions while awaiting for the long term plan to be implemented. During this meeting Dartmouth Community Media will be present to ensure that everything is on the record.