State Official Douses Hopes for New I-95 Connector Road to Relieve Heavy Neponset Street Traffic-October 14, 1983

State Department of Public Works Chief Engineer Robert McDonagh delivered sobering news to local officials and residents last night, stating that the prospect of constructing a new connector road from Interstate 95 to alleviate severe traffic congestion on Neponset Street is highly remote.

Addressing a neighborhood committee gathered at town hall alongside Town Manager John J. Carroll and Selectman Walter J. Dempsey, McDonagh explained that federal and state financial backing—as well as regulatory approval—should not be expected for the proposed multi-million dollar project.

Technical and Financial Hurdles Highlighted

McDonagh pointed out several insurmountable hurdles facing any new interstate connection:

• Interchange Spacing: The distance between the existing I-95 cloverleaf at Neponset Street and the next interchange south at Coney Street in Walpole is far too short to accommodate an additional on-and-off connection. Introducing another link would violate federal spacing standards designed to prevent dangerous traffic turbulence caused by vehicles entering and exiting too frequently.
• Federal Opposition: Because the federal government funded 90 percent of the interstate’s construction cost, federal authorities will strictly block any initiative that compromises smooth traffic flow on the highway.
• Environmental Obstacles: A connector road linking I-95 to Route 1 (routing toward Vanderbilt Avenue in the Park Place industrial park) would require a massive project estimated between $5 million and $10 million, severely complicated by wetlands and deep peat deposits. McDonagh estimated the multi-year planning and approval process could easily span 12 years or more in stiff competition for scarce state and federal dollars.

Town Officials Express Frustration and Weigh Alternatives

Town Manager Carroll noted that an astounding 24,000 vehicles travel down the two-lane Neponset Street every single day. While opening up the currently dead-end Vanderbilt Avenue within the Park Place industrial park might siphon off an estimated 2,500 morning vehicles or 5,000 cars daily, broader relief remains elusive.

Selectman Walter J. Dempsey, a prime booster of the connector road, voiced deep frustration with state transportation policy: “I think the state Department of Public Works and the governor owe us for what they’ve done to that neighborhood. I’ve been mad at the state DPW for years and I’m still mad.” Dempsey noted that a connector road would primarily benefit truckers and motorists heading to Route 1 businesses in the Factory Mutual area by allowing them to bypass congested traffic signals at Cherrywood Drive, Neponset Street, and Dean Street.

Amid the discussion, local resident Walter Thompson of 791 Neponset Street raised a novel counter-proposal: why not restrict or close specific I-95 off-ramps during peak hours—such as southbound traffic exiting onto Neponset Street toward Norwood Center?

While McDonagh admitted he had never been asked that particular question before, Town Manager Carroll—a former DPW commissioner—noted that closing ramps under specific conditions had precedent on the Southeast Expressway and warranted exploration.

Thompson’s idea, along with other mitigation proposals, will be evaluated as part of an upcoming engineering study that town meeting will be asked to approve next month.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger