New England - Driving to Portland leaving NYC at 5:30am Friday

Any construction zones in CT and MA to avoid? Thanks. Typically we go FDR, new Willis Av bridge, Deegan, Cross County, Hutch, Merritt, 91, 84, 90, 290, 495, 95.

We're thinking of two diversions:

1. Taking 95 instead of Merritt to Milford Connector to Merrit/Wilbur Cross
2. Staying on 90 to 495.

Thoughts?

I don't think you'll encounter any problems, but why are you thinking of staying on 95 instead of the Merritt? I find the Merritt so much nicer.

The hills and sharp turns of the Merritt force you to use the breaks a lot.

The hills and sharp turns of the Merritt force you to use the breaks a lot.

But the traffic on 95 doesn't? :)

The hills and sharp turns of the Merritt force you to use the breaks a lot.

But the traffic on 95 doesn't? :)

Exactly! I find the drive on the Merritt to be much nicer and more relaxing than 95. Everytime I opt for 95 I end up sorry that I did.

We took the Merritt northbound Friday morning...easy. We took it yesterday after sundown. The headlights facing us were at times blinding...for both of us. But we took the Merritt b/c 95 was backed up.

We took the Merritt northbound Friday morning...easy. We took it yesterday after sundown. The headlights facing us were at times blinding...for both of us. But we took the Merritt b/c 95 was backed up.

Told ya so. :p

Told ya so. :pWell, being blinded was better than being stuck in traffic.

Although, a car pulled over when there wasn't really a shoulder and thus backed up the traffic for about 2 miles. We were lucky we weren't stuck even further back from that. Why he couldn't pull off maybe 20 feet before that and get into a grassy area is a mystery.

Well, being blinded was better than being stuck in traffic.

Although, a car pulled over when there wasn't really a shoulder and thus backed up the traffic for about 2 miles. We were lucky we weren't stuck even further back from that. Why he couldn't pull off maybe 20 feet before that and get into a grassy area is a mystery.

Yeah that's an issue, the lack of a shoulder. Also the Mobil stations are dangerous, I think. I've seen a lot of close calls with people pulling into traffic after fueling up.

... Also the Mobil stations are dangerous, I think. I've seen a lot of close calls with people pulling into traffic after fueling up.That can be bad, but the worst ones I've seen (fortunately all close calls, so far) are between a car pulling away from the pumps, moving left to re-enter the roadway, and a car driving past the pumps toward the parking area past the building on the right. They don't build service areas like that any more, but they also use a lot more real estate for them these days. There's probably no practical way to redesign those relics to avoid the problem.

That can be bad, but the worst ones I've seen (fortunately all close calls, so far) are between a car pulling away from the pumps, moving left to re-enter the roadway, and a car driving past the pumps toward the parking area past the building on the right.

+1 I've seen that as well. I try to avoid those stations whenever possible. Will often refuel at the Yonkers exit on the Hutchinson when returning a Hertz car in Manhattan. (There is a gas station about 50 yards past the exit).

We took the Merritt northbound Friday morning...easy. We took it yesterday after sundown. The headlights facing us were at times blinding...for both of us. But we took the Merritt b/c 95 was backed up.As I've posted in other recent threads, I don't get this whole blinded by oncoming headlights things. I drive the Merritt all the time, often at night, and have never once noticed a problem, even when consciously trying to pay attention for it. Maybe you and your hubby just have sensitive eyes! :)


Yeah that's an issue, the lack of a shoulder. Also the Mobil stations are dangerous, I think. I've seen a lot of close calls with people pulling into traffic after fueling up.It's not just the Mobil Stations. Many (most?) of the entrances to the Merritt do not have lanes permitting cars to get up to highway speed when entering the roadway; they require the cars to enter from a standing stop. Courteous drivers already on the highway will move to the left, when possible, to give entering cars more room.

This notwithstanding, compared to the parking lot they call I-95, I <heart> the Merritt!

Well, being blinded was better than being stuck in traffic.

I don't get this whole blinded by oncoming headlights things. I drive the Merritt all the time, often at night, and have never once noticed a problem, even when consciously trying to pay attention for it.

The oncoming-headlinghts thing is a real problem for me during dark hours, especially on the Merriitt where the lanes are close together. The road feels claustrophobic to me at night and it's difficult to see ahead because of the glare. Add in the short merges and I'll take I-95 when the sun's not up unless it's well and truly jammed.

If the OP departs NYC at 5:30a heading north, and hits no undue traffic, he ought to be passing through New Haven around 700a and make Portland by 1100a.

The oncoming-headlinghts thing is a real problem for me during dark hours, especially on the Merriitt where the lanes are close together. The road feels claustrophobic to me at night and it's difficult to see ahead because of the glare. Add in the short merges and I'll take I-95 when the sun's not up unless it's well and truly jammed.I can understand that the Merritt, particularly at night -- and especially if it's raining or snowing -- is not for everyone. But I did drive it at night about half a dozen times in the last month, trying to pay attention to the oncoming glare, and I just didn't see any problem at all. And everytime I decide to take 95, I'm sorry I did.

As I've posted in other recent threads, I don't get this whole blinded by oncoming headlights things. I drive the Merritt all the time, often at night, and have never once noticed a problem, even when consciously trying to pay attention for it. Maybe you and your hubby just have sensitive eyes!

The oncoming-headlinghts thing is a real problem for me during dark hours, especially on the Merriitt where the lanes are close together. The road feels claustrophobic to me at night and it's difficult to see ahead because of the glare.Looks like it is not just my hubby and I. ;) Maybe one needs to be acclimated to the glare. :)

Add in the short merges and I'll take I-95 when the sun's not up unless it's well and truly jammed.That was the case with us. 95 had problems so we just drove in the right lane of the Merritt and had to deal with cars from the Mobil stations and the short on ramps (if they are even long enough to call 'ramps). The Wilbur Cross portion isn't that bad.

If the OP departs NYC at 5:30a heading north, and hits no undue traffic, he ought to be passing through New Haven around 700a and make Portland by 1100a.We were in Kittery by 10:00am last Friday. We then did some shopping, had lunch at Bob's Clam Hut (early lunch), and then drove to Cape Elizabeth. We made good time.

... had lunch at Bob's Clam Hut ....Ok, there's one thing we can agree on!

Ok, there's one thing we can agree on!We stop there on the way up and on the way down. ^