May 16, 2008 6:29 pm US/Eastern
Daytime Pike Work Saves Money, Angers Drivers
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Turnpike construction crews work near Route 495 in Hopkinton.
WBZ
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Would you prefer road work be done at night, when it costs you more, or during the day, when it causes more traffic?
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Expect traffic on the Massachusetts Turnpike to get worse after rush hour.
In an attempt to save money and close a $30 million budget gap, the Turnpike Authority is sending out work crews between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. instead of late at night.
There are two projects underway right now affecting traffic. There's work being done at the entrance to the Prudential tunnel in Boston and near Route 495 in Hopkinton.
"We're keeping an eye on it," said Mac Daniel with the Mass Turnpike Authority. "We don't want it to be an inconvenience. If it starts to impact traffic in a very negative way we will stop what we're doing and open lanes up to keep traffic moving."
The Prudential work backed up eastbound traffic Thursday all the way to the Allston-Brighton tolls.
Daniel told WBZ the daytime work should save them millions of dollars in overtime and police detail. So far this year, the savings is $1.2 million.
But then there's all that extra traffic and lane closures.
"It's terribly frustrating. We've heard it from motorists already," Daniel said. "Again, we're keeping an eye on it and we'll curtail any daytime work if it starts to have a negative impact."
The daytime projects will not be done on Fridays or weekends. Plenty of electronic billboards will also be put up to alert drivers ahead of time.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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