City of Methuen Master Plan

Methuen Master Plan 2007
***
**
Howe St. north of Marston Corner Potential problem.
Most severe. * Problem
Severe
KEY CORRIDORS
Methuen is strategically located near two interstate highways, I-495 and I-93, and is served by state
Routes 28, 110, 113, and 213.
Route 28 (Broadway), a principal arterial, runs north–south connecting to Salem, New Hampshire,
and Lawrence, Massachusetts, and points south. In Methuen, Route 28 is generally a two-lane,
undivided road with residential and commercial development at downtown Methuen and along most
of its spine. Average daily traffic (ADT) volumes are about 18,700.
Route 110 (Lowell Street), a principal arterial, connects to I-93 and I-495 and provides access to
the southern parts of Methuen. The intersection of Route 110 and Route 113 at I-93 is listed as an
area of “most severe highway congestion” by the Merrimack Valley Metropolitan Planning
Organization and has one of the region’s highest crash rates. The intersection is currently being
studied by the Executive Office of Transportation. ADT is 14,690. Route 110 at the Dracut line is
known as Lowell Boulevard for 1.2 miles. It was converted in the late 1990s from a 4-lane roadway
to a 2-lane roadway with an 8-foot shoulder. ADT is 12,800.
Route 113 (North Lowell Street and Lowell Street west of Broadway; Pleasant Street and
Pleasant Valley Street east of Broadway) runs northeast to southwest, providing access to I-93,
Route 213 and The Loop, and Route I-495. The ADT on Route 113 east of Route 28 is 6,560
(7,710 on Saturday).
Route 213 (The Loop Connector) is a 4-mile, controlled-access highway connecting I-93 and
I-495. Route 213 has 5 exits: I-93, Broadway, Route 113/Jackson Street, Route 113 (The Loop
Mall), and I-495. It is called the Loop Connector because it connects I-93 and I-495. ADT is
approximately 54,800.
KEY INTERSECTIONS
Accidents
Data from the 2003 MVMPO Regional Transportation Plan and the 2004 Massachusetts Highway
Department Web site report that the top 5 intersections in Methuen with high accident incidents are
as shown in Table 37
Table 37: Key Accident Locations
Average # of
Rank Intersection
Accidents
1 Howe St./Rt. 213 (Jackson St. exit)/Rt. 113 (Pleasant Valley St.) 22
2 Rt. 28 (Broadway)/Rosewood Road 22*
3 Rt. 110 (Haverhill St.)/Rt. 113 (Lowell St.) 19*
4 Rt. 113 (Lowell St.)/I-93 Rotary 12
5 Burnham Road/Rt. 110 (Haverhill St.) 7
6 Hampstead St./North St. 6
6 Green St./Rt. 110 (Haverhill St.) 6
7 East St./Lawrence St. 5
8 Arlington St./East St. 4
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