To continue getting breaking news and the full stories from The Boston Globe, subscribe today.

The Boston Globe

Letters

letters

Don’t read too much into epic Pike traffic jam

RE “EPIC 45-mile traffic backup should prompt Pike changes” (Editorial, Oct. 11): As someone who travels the entire length of the Mass. Pike a minimum of 20 times a year, including last Friday, I can tell you that the 45-mile backup had nothing to do with tolls, the Interstate 84 merge, or the lack of E-ZPass drivers. It’s like this every year on the Friday of Columbus Day weekend.

The issue is one of sheer volume — leaf peepers and people looking to grab one last decent three-day weekend. Few cars get off at 495 while thousands get on. Same at I-84.

Comments

Eliminating tolls on busy days will ease the backup.  Even Big Bird knows that.