The Most Stressful Commute in Massachusetts Revealed

My Uncle Bap, who is 95, handed in his car keys several years ago. As such, he spends less time out on the highways and byways of Massachusetts. When he does get out, he is amazed by the volume of traffic these days.

How Massachusetts Traffic Has Changed Over Time

"I've never seen so many cars," Uncle Bap exclaims on those occasions when I scoot him from one place to another. Far fewer people owned cars in his day. Times have changed.

Anyone who has driven with any regularity over the last decade or so would likely agree that the roadways are becoming increasingly crowded with motor vehicles. For many, the ride to and from work can be a drag.

Traffic jams abound just about everywhere these days, even in New Bedford, where once we watched things get bottled up near Boston, the Cape, and then Providence. And now here.

Drivers Weigh In on the State’s Worst Commute

Boston.com asked its readers which is the "most stressful commute" in the state.

"Out of more than 150 readers who responded, nearly half pointed to the Southeast Expressway," the site reported. "I-95/Route 128 received 18 percent of the vote, while the Zakim Bridge/I-93 North in Boston drew only 13 percent." Another 20 percent chose other routes.

The ride over the Tobin Bridge can be a real treat, too.

New Bedford’s Growing Traffic Trouble Spots

The New Bedford area has its share of traffic nightmares that seem to worsen with time. Driving near the I-195/Route 18 interchange reconstruction project is enough to test your patience. That area was getting tough before the construction began.

Other traffic nightmares include the intersection of Route 140/Route 6, Hathaway Road/Route 6, and Faunce Corner Road/Route 6. Have you ever tried to take a left onto Hathaway Road from Route 140?

Plans for a possible Advanced Manufacturing Campus on Hathaway Road have sparked calls for a traffic study in the area.

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I commuted from New Bedford to Providence for years. That's a whole other story. Traffic off and on Cape Cod can be brutal during the summer, especially on Friday afternoon commutes.

While hellish at times, none of the locations I've listed can compare with the Southeast Expressway. I agree with the Boston.com readers on this one.