Major Changes to Airport Rotary

Major changes are coming to traffic patterns at the Airport Rotary.

On Wednesday, May 9, construction crews will permanently close the rotary entrance to Barnstable Municipal Airport, weather permitting. The airport exit into the rotary will also close for a short period during construction of road work at the rotary and along the stretch of Barnstable Road adjacent to the airport.

In addition, work crews have begun widening the shoulders on Rte. 132 for a new median and curbs between the rotary and a point just past Hinckley Road. The median is intended to prevent eastbound motorists from making hazardous left turns from Rte. 132 onto Hinckley Road, and left turns onto Rte. 132 from Hinckley Road.

The work is one of the final phases of the airport's $40 million improvement program. It is designed to reduce accidents on Rte. 132 and relieve traffic congestion near the rotary. The projects were held up for months by an abutter's lawsuit that was eventually resolved in the airport's favor.  All of the work is expected to be complete, weather permitting, before the Memorial Day weekend later this month.

"Motorists should be alert to the coming changes," said Airport Manager Roland "Bud" Breault. "We'll be posting signs but there may be some confusion initially. In the long term, the changes will be beneficial to all."

How to Reach the Airport in the Future

• Drivers approaching the airport on Rte. 28 from West Yarmouth should turn right onto the new entrance ramp before reaching the rotary. It is located where the former TD Bank building was sited. An alternative is to turn right onto Hinckley Road after traversing the rotary.
• Motorists coming from Rte. 6 via Rte. 132 should turn left onto Attucks Lane, cross Independence Drive and turn left on the new Airport Road extension. A right turn from Independence Drive onto Attucks Lane will connect with Airport Road as well.
• Those approaching the rotary on Barnstable Road from Main Street orfrom Centerville on Falmouth Road (Rte. 28) should go through the rotary and turn right onto Hinckley Road.
• Drivers using Mary Dunn Road from Rte. 6A should turn right onto Independence Drive, left onto Attucks Lane and proceed to Airport Road. 

In addition, crews will finish installing sidewalks and paint road lines on Airport Road and Barnstable Road. 

Once utility work is complete, a traffic signal will be installed at the intersection of Attucks Lane and Airport Road and roadway paving will be completed.

The road work is being done by Lawrence Lynch Corp. of Falmouth and is being paid for with federal and state funds.

Information from a press release.