Safer Exit at Highway 118 Fall River

Improvements at Exit 14 on Highway 118 in Fall River, will reduce backups on the highway and give motorists a safer way off the ramp.

Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal crews will begin the installation of traffic signals at the end of the Exit 14 ramp this week.

The new signals will allow the department to assign right-of-way to ramp traffic and permit motorists to make the left-hand turn on Perrin Drive on a green light, without having to come to a full stop.

Motorists will see further improvements at the intersection of Perrin Drive at the southbound on-ramp to Highway 118. The intersection will have a new traffic island to create a separate lane for right-turning traffic headed for the signals at Trunk 2.

Currently, drivers must come to a full stop at the intersection. This change will allow vehicles to make the right-hand turn without having to stop.

Both improvements will have video detection systems installed to enable a signal controller to assign additional green-light time for motorists during peak hours.

"The intersection improvements will address the immediate problems drivers are experiencing with traffic backing up on Highway 118," said Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Murray Scott. "This solution should be completed by early December and give drivers in this area a much safer drive to and from work."

Traffic volume in the Fall River area is increasing and tie ups that occur at nearby locations have compounded traffic problems at Exit 14.

"These improvements will provide a short-term solution to the traffic-congestion problem experienced at this interchange," said Mr. Scott. "The department will continue to investigate long-term solutions to deal with traffic capacity issues at the interchange."