Driving around (outside of) Boston
 

Hi everyone. <BR> <BR>I'm flying into Providence this weekend. After spending a day looking at the "cottages" in Newport I'm headed to Maine. Due to time contraints, I need the fastest route Newport RI to Portland ME. <BR> <BR>What are your suggestions for getting around Boston? <BR> <BR>Thanks for the advice. <BR> <BR>Emmy

You really don't have that many options - the two routes around are I-95 and I-495, with I-95 (also known locally as Route 128) being much shorter, but potentially longer in time at morning and evening rush hours on weekdays. You can also go right through the city on I-93, but that's only a good choice either very early or very late in the day, and sometimes you can still get caught. Your best bet is to take the I-95 option pretty much anytime on weekends or between approximately 10 AM and 3 PM on weekdays.

Thanks Dick. <BR> <BR>I'm doing the drive on Sunday. I guess I'll take I-95 and avoid the center of town. <BR> <BR>Like the thread from the person who fears flying into Boston, I opted out and went to Providence. <BR> <BR>To all the Boston people what is the big dig? <BR> <BR>emmy

The Big Dig is the largest (?) federally funded road construction project in US History (or something to that effect!). The project is huge--the main portion of it is surpressing I-93 underground.It's caused a huge mess in in the Financial District/Waterfront area. Check out the website: www.bigdig.com for more info!

The big dig - the third harbor tunnel and supposedly easier travel around Boston has now cost the taxpayers in excess of 12.4 BILLION dollars - a mere 1.2 billion over budget. The major routes in teh city are, have been, and willbe a disaster for a very long time, and this includes one of prime routes into Logan Airport! The airpot itself is under construction as well, which only adds to the hassle. In other words - No Fun -Avoid at all costs. You will love the Providence airport - small, very user friendly, easy access to major highways! My husband uses it for all his business travel all the time now.

Just wanted to stick my oar in - the big dig is a good thing, and not much of a hassle if you know when and where to drive (tourists don't - one of the many reasons we tell them not to drive in Boston). Logan airport is actually remarkably accessible and easy to deal with if you know what you are foing (an admitted big if). It is actually one of my favorite big city airports in the world (along with Reagan National and Venice). <BR> <BR>I live in downtown Boston, by the way.