I-495, Mass Pike Renovation: MassDOT To Provide Updates

WESTBOROUGH, MA — MassDOT will provide local commuters with an update on a major local highway project to remake the busy and dangerous I-495, Mass Pike interchange in Holliston and Westborough.

The busy interchange carries about 175,000 vehicles per day, and is a major choke point during high commute times — a main problem MassDOT is trying to solve is that vehicles often back up along I-495 and I-90 while trying to exit. Some of the entry and exit points are also too short, leading to dangerous deceleration and acceleration points.

The last the public heard about the project from MassDOT was in July 2020 when the agency presented several proposed designs for the interchange. The proposals would eliminate the two circular ramps on the southeast and northwest sides of the interchange, replacing them with shorter curved ramps, offering a more direct route between the two highways. The circular ramps are remnants from when the highway featured toll booths.

At that same meeting, MassDOT proposed a timeline of construction between 2022 and 2027.

The virtual public hearing will be held Wednesday starting at 6 p.m. Attendees will be able to ask questions about the project, and offer suggestions to MassDOT planners.