Faunce Corner Road construction resumes

Spring weather brought with it familiar sounds of birds chirping, bees buzzing, and... construction equipment rumbling on Faunce Corner Road.

Work resumed in the area last week. According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), the current phase of the project involves the “realignment and reconstruction of the ramps and acceleration lanes of I-195 eastbound and westbound,” which will become two lanes that will merge onto Faunce Corner Road.

Additionally, traffic signals will be installed at three different locations.

According to Dave Hickox, Dartmouth Director of Public Works, there are three phases in the current construction activity. The first is the interchange project -- widening the exits to I-195 eastbound and westbound.

Also involved in this phase is upgrades to Faunce Corner Road from Route 6 to Cross Road, which will be widened heading north and add an additional lane. Intersection improvements to the theater-side entrance of the Dartmouth Mall and the entrances to the Best Buy and Lowe's plazas, respectively, will also be added, Hickox said.

According to MassDOT, construction is slated to conclude in spring 2017. However, Town Administrator David Cressman anticipates that I-195 construction could run into late 2017 to early 2018. Hickox notes that the project is "well along" and "on schedule."

Phase two involves the relocation of Tucker Road. It will realign Tucker Road so that it intersects with Hathaway Road and pass through the North Dartmouth Library property and Hawthorne Plaza, Hickox said.

According to Hickox, the design of this portion of the project is it 25-percent completed. Officials hope a public hearing on the design can be held this summer.

The third and final phase includes fixing the Faunce Corner Road interchange all the way to Old Fall River Road. Changes span from the railroad tracks down to old Fall River Road with recommendations for a roundabout to be installed, Hickox said.

Despite the clutter on Faunce Corner Road throughout the winter, officials say drivers coped well.

“People have pretty much gotten around the traffic situation," Cressman said. "Looking down the road, it will improve the overall traffic flow and, for the stores, bring more customers."

However, congestion became heavy this week as construction resumed. Police were needed to help mitigate traffic coming off of the westbound exit and onto Faunce Corner Road. On Wednesday, April 27, the lane used to turn onto Cross Road was closed as paving commenced, further slowing traffic.

Normal work hours are from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Commuters should expect periodic lane closures and restrictions.