Not Just Town Traffic

[itsahemi]

Has anyone else noticed that traffic (both northbound and southbound during rush hours) on the Turnpike from the Mass. border to Exit 12 has been horrendous the last 2 months? At least 3 times a week lately, there have been major backups from breakdowns/construction/accidents/police presence, that make traffic spillover to DW Highway, which cause major issues for in town traffic. I thought 17 years ago, that I moved far enough north (Merrimack), to be away from this type of thing, but boy have things changed!

[andysinnh]

Having done the commute for close to 30 years, I'd say that increased traffic is a good sign - usually means more folks are working. Yea, one could argue that they're headed to Mass when it would be good that they're in NH - but work is work, and in this economy, employment is a good thing. I personally have heard of many who lost their jobs over the past year that are finding either contract or permanent jobs over the past couple of months, so that could be reflective of what you've been noticing.

You want traffic? Rewind back 20 years before they made the highway wide through Nashua - or during the time they did the widening. Now THAT was traffic!

andy

[lynn]

for the first time in months there was a back up at exit 11 - down to exit 10 this evening
spilling over onto DW highway at exit 11 and a bit heading under the bridge and right onto amherst rd

[hqrt48]

town is growing BIG time....I think that once the outlet malls go in the town is going to BOOM. In my opinion it will be the best thing that ever happened to this town. Look at bedford, amherst, nashua they are just building all around us! it's time to get more commercial businesses in town for tax relief. Merrimack just isn't a small little town anymore.

[Jamie MacFarland]

town is growing BIG time....I think that once the outlet malls go in the town is going to BOOM. In my opinion it will be the best thing that ever happened to this town. Look at bedford, amherst, nashua they are just building all around us! it's time to get more commercial businesses in town for tax relief. Merrimack just isn't a small little town anymore.

The town has grown very little over the last decade. Its population has stabilized, and the mall or any other retail establishment will not likely change that dynamic. The traffic is not purely Merrimack residents, but a regional factor. If you look at the population of Merrimack in 2010 vs 2000, you will see the growth is very little. The number of children in schools is declining very slightly every year for the last decade. That is a clear trend. The growth spurt in Merrimack was in the 80s and 90s.

[Ken Coleman]

it's time to get more commercial businesses in town for tax relief.

The tax relief is not going to happen from commercial growth.

Why do I say this? Beucase it is fact. Find just ONE community in New Hampshire or even outside that has received true long term tax relief from commercial (or any other kind) of growth. (OK nuclear power plants do not count!).

Growth is good for a lot of things, Jobs, Income and services, but it does not help property taxes and in most case it hurts.

The built up towns and citys have some of the highest taxes.

With growth, comes income, but also the demand for more services. the one always in the end outstrips the other.

I know all kinds of people with disagree with this. I know it would SEEM like the right type of growth could be good for the tax base! But the hard facts do not agree with this.

Ken Coleman

[andysinnh]

Gee - I'd thought this might turn into a discussion about overall traffic increase and some of the reasons it might be happening. Alas, as has been true with any traffic discussion over the past couple of years, it's drifted into comments about the mall traffic and the perverbial retail vs commercial tax benefits discussion yet again...

As far as traffic goes, you've never had "fun" unless you tried to commute home from the Digital training facility in Bedford MA back to Merrimack during a weekday evening. If you didn't leave by 3, you might as well stick around till 7. Regardless of the volume, the traffic flow is MUCH better today than it was in the 80's....

[tim dutton]

Look at the number of lane changes from Nashua to Merrimack on the turnpike. From 3 lanes to two lanes. Bridge Construction in Merrimack and construction at the Bedford toll area. All Adds up.

And yes, the mall will cause more traffic woes for Merrimack.

Whenever traffic is backed up on the turnpike, many get off and take Rt 3 north and cause an even larger backup.

Traffic at Lights at exit 11 might be a cause.

[lynn]

the bk intersection has been much better the past weeks
yesterday was the first time that I hit a backup
backup on the highway was MUCH heavier and I noticed a long line at common man
lights so suspect a lot of people were getting off
may have been a accident on the highway further up

[Ken Coleman]

Andy,

I am so sorry. I did not realize that the topic "Not just town Traffic" meant "Only town traffic discussed here".

I keep trying to use English as it was originally designed! My fault!


Ken

[andysinnh]

Andy,

I am so sorry. I did not realize that the topic "Not just town Traffic" meant "Only town traffic discussed here".

I keep trying to use English as it was originally designed! My fault!


Ken

You didn't start it - the thread drifted right after my initial reply before you posted anything.... Guess I was just looking forward to a conversation about traffic changes recently and what the impacts might have been... Nothing more....

andy

[Concerned]

IMHO traffic from Mass to NH during rush hour is not a problem. Sure, it slows down a little bit approaching the 495 exit but after that it is not an issue.

I used to commute during the "out by 3PM or wait till 7PM" time and that was true. But now, traffic flows very smoothly. Although I do not make that commute now, I regularly take the bus from Logan to Nashua during rush hour and there are never any issues except a minor slowdown for a couple of miles.

Compared to a complete standstill and driving 2 hours on a normal 45 minute commute years ago, it's a piece of cake .

If you have not experienced the horror of yesteryear, I can perhaps see why it is considered an issue. When you travel extenively, it all becomes relative and a 15 minute "slowdown" can actually be perceived as a good thing.

[lynn]

heading north at 5:30
.traffic backed up at exit 8
relieved a bit after 10 then backed up at 11
little congestion at BK again tonight
not bad except for the one lady on her cell phone blocking the thru lane
west on continental

[joe179]

The case of a drifting thread - Oh My

[Brian McCarthy]

last night about 4:45, getting off at 8, (as usual) there was a backup (not usual) but looking north as I went over there were signs of an accident just beyond the lane drop (between 8/10... hey, where is 9 anyway ???