Part of Marion Road could go from four lanes to two

MassDOT will present a proposed reconstruction of Route 6 (Marion Road), affecting the road from Cromesett Road to Wareham Town Hall, at a virtual public hearing on Wednesday, June 21 at 6 p.m. 

The proposed redesign would reduce the number of lanes from four to two, with one lane of traffic going in each direction and five-foot shoulders on each side. There would also be a new traffic signal and a left turn only lane. The current traffic signal at Wareham Plaza would receive an upgrade.

The westbound side of the roadway would receive rebuilt sidewalks to improve pedestrian and bicycle access, while the eastbound side would receive a 100-foot shared-use path. The entire section of road would receive curb ramps compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

At the hearing, residents will be able to learn about the proposed project and share their views. 

In 2018, the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) gave Wareham residents a survey asking them whether they felt safe riding, biking or driving on Route 6. That information was to be used to develop a "vision" for possible changes to the road from Wareham to Fairhaven.

In late 2019, SRPEDD held a public meeting about the same stretch of road. At that meeting, a SRPEDD official said that Marion Road's sidewalks were the most dangerous on Route 6. SRPEDD presented four possible designs to improve Route 6, including decreasing the number of lanes from four to two, new and wider sidewalks, bike lanes and off-road facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians.

This meeting, and another in 2020, were met with controversy. Opponents to the road redesign said that a two-lane Route 6 would be overly congested, especially during the summer.

To register for the June 21 meeting, visit tinyurl.com/yzwt5sd6.

For more information, email MassDOTProjectManagement@dot.state.ma.us.