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Route 6 is such a regular part of our lives, with many of us driving it every day. It’s hard to come right out and say that it’s unsafe. But as we face a series of horrific crashes, it’s time for a conversation about whether this highway built in the 1950s is serving the needs of our community today.

Over the Independence Day holiday weekend, there were at least three serious crashes on Route 6 across New Bedford Harbor and in Fairhaven:

This follows February’s crash that killed a 28-year-old Fairhaven driver on the bridge. Especially as we look to make a generational investment in replacing the Fairhaven-New Bedford Bridge, we need to take a good hard look at the design of the current span and the state highway that follows it. 

On talk radio and Facebook, blame is often solely placed on individual choices and bad driving. We can all agree more should be done to curb reckless and distracted driving, as well as driving under the influence. While enforcement plays an important role, police resources are already stretched thin — and it’s simply not feasible to have officers stationed at every dangerous intersection or stretch of road where speeding occurs.

But if individual negligence was primarily to blame, why aren’t crashes spread equally across our roadways? We all know the unsafe roads and intersections in our communities. They’re not dangerous because the worst drivers gather there — it’s because our roads have increasingly been built for vehicle speed, and without consideration for the consequences of poorly-designed intersections.

Take a look at a crash map and Route 6 traces itself like a scar across the South Coast. Route 6 is home to 23 of 100 of our area’s most dangerous intersections, according to the Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District (SRPEDD). 

Route 6 was built in the 1920s as a highway connecting Providence to Provincetown. Despite I-195 being added as a parallel highway in the 1950s, Route 6’s design today remains largely the same as it was when it served as a high-speed cut through. 

Especially with the national shift away from big box stores and shopping plazas, Route 6’s economic engine is visibly sputtering. Dollar stores have replaced department stores, and drive-thrus have replaced destination restaurants. Even though many of our region’s schools are located on or right off Route 6, sidewalks are sporadic and bike infrastructure is nonexistent. 

Route 6 is increasingly defined by what you can’t do — or do safely.

Is our community better served by continuing to treat all of Route 6 as a highway, or should at least parts of it evolve to become community streets that prioritize access and safety over speed? We know there’s significant public interest in the latter. SRPEDD’s Route 6 Corridor Study showed strong support for the 3-lane configuration (2 travel lanes with a two-way left-turn lane) that Mattapoisett uses through its center.

Fairhaven has taken a step forward, applying a 40R zoning overlay across a big section of what are now largely empty shopping plaza parking lots, allowing them to be redeveloped as mixed-use, with both commercial space and urgently needed housing. There’s talk of reduced car dependence and walkability, but take a look at cars zipping by, infrequent bus service, and limited to nonexistent infrastructure for walking and biking, and Route 6 continues to send the message that we expect folks to drive if they have the means and ability.

Meanwhile, downtown New Bedford, with its dense walkability, is where our region’s cultural vibrancy and business investment are now focused. With a series of new apartment buildings springing up and South Coast Rail finally open, downtown’s future looks bright.

But the Fairhaven-New Bedford Bridge increasingly divides, rather than connects, the two communities. Traffic counts show vehicle traffic over the bridge plummeted by more than half from 1979 to 2014. Despite the opening of South Coast Rail, no buses run over the bridge, and walking and biking must be done on narrow sidewalks. The teenage girl injured on July 5 was hit on an increasingly busy crossing between a marina and playground and shopping plazas — but Route 6 has no marked crossings anywhere on its nearly one-mile span across the harbor.

It’s time to reimagine the role we want this road to serve. We can no longer accept the unsafe status quo. The upcoming replacement of the Fairhaven-New Bedford Bridge is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to start down a new path, designing a place for people, one that safely connects our communities and gives people choices on how to get around. 

Southcoast Places for People is forming a working group to look at Route 6. We believe a smarter, safer road design can get everyone where they’re going safely, on time, and by whatever mode they choose to use. We’ll keep the memories of those taken from us in these crashes close to our hearts, as we talk to our neighbors about how best to protect the next generation of South Coast kids. 

Will Gardner is founder of Southcoast Places for People. Miles Grant is a member of SCPFP and a member of the Fairhaven Planning Board.

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5 replies on “Redesigning a safer Route 6 for today’s South Coast”

  1. Great article regarding accidents on Fairhaven bridge and design problems w route 6.Yes route 6 designed for yesterday and it is yesterday’s highway today. First fairhaven bridge traffic a nightmare especially unfair to driver and pedestrian .Not an individual blame but design problem.what sense does it make to have 2 lights at Fairhaven end if bridge within 50 feet but NO light to slow down traffic unless less bridge closes for rest of 1 mile span..trying to cross from kids playground or marina to get a drink or use restroom at Dunkin is taking your life into your hands as is access egress from Fathoms .Lights would slow down speeding traffic at both also possibility of a,divider to prevent crossover accidents..temp solution until new bridge higher oift span is built. On rest of route 6..yes empty plazas perfect for housing w public transpo and bike lanes to serve..another thing why unlike rest of route 6 is there no green space in New Bedford between bridge and border w Dartmouth Fall River has one along Eastern ave that nicely divides Rt 6 lanes..know it would take time money land buys but worth it..finally would encourage .ore public transpo walking.When i came back here from NYC and a very walkable city was struck how vehicle dependent and pedestrian unfriendly southcoast is and corresponding out of shape much of population is..people drive from 1 store in a parking lot to another we need to educate on this by doing better walking biking saying hello to passerbys stop honking..Just a thought or two
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  2. We need a Large Draw bridge replacing the old turn bridge. Paid for by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that has neglected it for years.

  3. Maybe if people pay attention to speed limits! Doing 60mph in a 35 is insane!! We need stronger State Police presence & Local police start double fines an traps! It works in Eastham,Wellfleet, Truo. It’s a start!! Been traveling 6 for 50yrs some!Worst it’s ever been!

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