Community Corner

Bridge Closure Creating Horrid Traffic Jams in Jamaica Plain

Casey Overpass was closed in May for construction.

The Casey Overpass, which had connected Forest Hills and Jamaica Plan, is no longer accessible to commuters and it has resulted in nightmarish traffic conditions for those who travel in the area. According to some travelers, a two-mile trip has at times taken over an hour.

Local motorists recently told the Boston Globe that they never expected traffic in the area to be as bad as it is. MassDOT closed the bridge in May to begin a two-year project to replace the overpass with a series of roadways.

The Globe reports afternoon commutes of 13 and 14 minutes have increased to 22 and 23 minutes between Shea and Murray circles and between Hyde Park Avenue and Washington Street. Surprisingly the morning drive times have only been bumped up by an average of two minutes.

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State transportation officials are blaming the delays on construction in the area. They do expect the delays to decrease as drivers familiarize themselves with the new traffic layouts over the next few weeks.

“It’s a total mess and it’s painful,” one commuter told the Globe of the traffic situation.

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