MassDOT Encourages Safe Travel Over July 4 Holiday

Media Contact
MassDOT Press Office: 857-368-8500

BOSTON - MassDOT encourages safe travel during the upcoming July 4 holiday weekend. Before driving, MassDOT encourages travelers to check our live Traffic Cameras web page to view current conditions.

Traffic is expected to be especially heavy at the I-84 interchange at Exit 9 in Sturbridge on the day before the holiday and at Exit 11A, I-495, where cars are headed south to Cape Cod and north to New Hampshire and Maine. To plan ahead, traffic information is available for download using the free RideWise Smartphone App that provides live traffic conditions.

The U.S Army Corps of Engineers reports that all travel lanes on the Sagamore Bridge are open until after Labor Day.

MassDOT will open the HOV Zipper lane on Thursday, June 2nd from the hours of 1 PM through 8 PM. Additionally, MassDOT will suspend all construction work on major arterial roadways from 12 PM on Thursday, July 2nd and lasting through Monday, July 6th at 12 PM.

Motorists are reminded that all-electronic toll collection is now in place on the Tobin Bridge and are encouraged to join the E-ZPass program: www.Mass.gov/EZPassMA.

Free coffee will be served at the 18 MassDOT service plazas from 10 pm Saturday, July 4, through 5 am Sunday morning, July 5. The plazas serving free coffee include 11 service plazas along I-90 plus plazas along Route 3 in Plymouth, Route 128 in Beverly, Route 128/I-95 in Newton and Lexington, Route 6 in Barnstable, and the Route 24 northbound and southbound plazas.

The MBTA will operate on a regular weekday schedule on Friday, July 3. On Saturday, July 4, beginning at 2:00 pm, subway service on all lines will operate at rush-hour levels to accommodate increased holiday ridership. Fares will be free after 9:30 p.m.

As a reminder, bicycles are not allowed on any subway lines for the entire day on the Fourth of July. Bicycles are also prohibited on inbound Commuter Rail trains from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. as well as on outbound trains after 4 p.m.

If you are visiting the Cape, consider taking the weekend CapeFLYER train! Extra holiday trains will operate Thursday, July 2 on a Friday schedule. Visit www.capeflyer.com for complete schedules and ticket information.

All RMV offices will be open on Friday, July 3 and Monday, July 6. The Registry reminds you that many license and registration transactions can be performed online at www.massrmv.com.