POLL: How Are Route 128 Changes Affecting Your Commute?

Route 128 construction efforts have come along, but for some, the changes have only created more confusion. 

At last week's North Shore Chamber of Commerce "State of the Region" meeting in Peabody, Town Manager Wayne Marquis fielded questions about the recent changes on Route 128, at both Route 62 and Route 35. 

"We know it's not your fault, but we want you to fix it," joked Salem News Publisher Karen Andreas, who also chairs the executive committee for the Chamber. She noted that traffic now often backs up to the middle school.

The problem, Marquis said, stems from as well as the implementation of new traffic lights. 

"What you have is lights coming on for the first time," he said. "The synchronization of the lights, moving them to align. That process is underway and it has created some confusion, to say the least, on Elliott and High Street."

Marquis said it is "about a 30-day process" for engineers to study traffic flow with the newly implemented lights. 

Marquis reminded concerned residents that the project is being conducted by the state, not locally. In credit to the state, Marquis said the project is ahead of schedule, and Mass DOT has been working to complete it early. 

What have your recent experiences been like on Route 128? Take our poll, and let us know in the comments.