Town Pushes For Rt. 6 Ramp Improvements

 HARWICH – The town has entered into discussions with the state about Route 6 acceleration and deceleration lane improvements at Exits 82 and 85. A high number of vehicle crashes have occurred at the interchanges in recent years as traffic congestion stalls when vehicles merge.

 “This was a positive meeting and I have some enthusiasm,” Department of Public Works Director Lincoln Hooper said of a session held with Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) officials last week.

The town has been seeking ramp lane improvements through MassDOT at the two locations for over a decade, but there has been no progress. The town’s traffic safety committee raised the issue this summer based on the number of accidents that occur at the locations. 

In late August, the select board sent a letter to Carrie Lavallee, deputy administrator and chief engineer at MassDOT, requesting a targeted safety project at the two entrance ramps along Route 6 in Harwich. 

 “These locations have been the subject of longstanding safety concerns, and we believe the issue warrants MassDOT action independent of the next scheduled repaving cycle,” the board wrote.

In 2016, then-town engineer Bob Cafarelli prepared a conceptual design for improvements to the ramps at the interchange of Route 6 and Route 124 (Exit 82) when MassDOT was planning a repaving project. His design for extending the acceleration and deceleration lanes was estimated to cost $70,000. MassDOT’s response at that time was that the proposal hadn't gone through the proper process, according to Hooper. 

Since that time, the traffic congestion and accident levels have increased. The Cape Cod Commission has done a few traffic and accident surveys in the area. In 2025, the commission released the Cape Cod Vision Zero Action Plan, a Capewide study designed to reduce accidents and fatalities on the Cape. The study highlighted accidents during the period of 2018 to 2022 at both intersections. The MassDOT data showed 13 crashes at Route 6 eastbound and 12 crashes reported at Route 6 westbound at the Route 124 intersection. There were additional crashes along Route 124 in the area. There were 19 crashes eastbound at Exit 85 at the Route 137 intersection and 12 crashes at the westbound intersection. 

The commission's report recommended steps to address the ramp issues at both intersections. 

The deficiencies were also cited in a 2019 Route 6 ramp and shoulder design study.

 “Unfortunately, the conditions identified in that report persist today, with crashes and regular traffic backups continuing to occur along this stretch of Route 6,” according to the select board letter.

 “We are requesting consideration of a targeted safety project, or projects, to extend acceleration and deceleration lane length at Exit 82 and Exit 85 consistent with the Mid-Cape Highway recommendations in the Cape Cod Vision Zero Action Plan,” the board wrote. “Given the persistence of this safety issue and the absence of recent progress, we respectfully request MassDOT’s attention and would welcome the opportunity to discuss potential next steps, including whether a standalone safety project could be advanced ahead of the next repaving cycle.”

In the virtual meeting held on Oct. 13, local officials and MassDOT staff discussed how the town can partner with the state to move this project forward, said Hooper. Hopefully MassDOT can find the money to do something with the ramps, he said.

 “I’m cautiously optimistic,” Hooper added.

 The town is waiting for a formal response from MassDOT.