It’s Time for a Bypass: Boston Post Road Has Reached Its Breaking Point

For most of American history, the Boston Post Road was a vital lifeline—connecting towns, commerce, and culture from New York to Boston. Today? It’s where morning optimism goes to die—somewhere between a red light in Weston and a jam-packed rotary in Sudbury.

Let’s not sugarcoat this: the Boston Post Road, or U.S. Route 20 in Massachusetts, is broken. It’s a daily purgatory of bumper-to-bumper misery, choked intersections, and the constant hum of idling engines. And in a region that prides itself on progressivism and planning, it’s ironic that one of our oldest roads is also one of our most neglected when it comes to modern mobility solutions.

The Status Quo Isn’t Working

From Weston to Marlborough, this historic route is a linear headache. In Weston, the intersection at Route 20 and Wellesley Street has been a known disaster for decades. Yes, the state has promised improvements—traffic signals, pedestrian upgrades, even a roundabout here or there—but these are band-aids on a patient in need of surgery.

There’s a reason traffic studies in this area are about as common as Dunkin’ Donuts locations: because everyone knows it’s a problem. What we lack is courage. Courage to act decisively. Courage to think bigger than yet another traffic light.

Bring Back the Bypass Mentality

Back in the 1920s—when flappers were dancing and Fords were just beginning to clog roads—a man named Arthur Shurcliff (a name that sounds like he probably wore a bowtie to bed) had the foresight to propose a bypass in Weston. The result? The State Road Bypass, which diverted heavy traffic away from the town center and preserved the charm of Weston’s historic core. A century later, it’s still doing its job.

We need that same spirit today. A modern bypass, carefully planned and designed with community input and environmental sensitivity, could alleviate congestion while safeguarding the quality of life that makes these towns desirable in the first place.

Real-World Solutions We Can Learn From

Let’s not reinvent the wheel. Here are three places getting it right:

1. Ashland, Virginia: Faced with relentless freight traffic, Ashland fought for and received a bypass that preserved its walkable downtown. Businesses thrived once the traffic moved.
2. Byram, Connecticut: After decades of flooding and traffic woes on U.S. Route 1, the town implemented a partial bypass coupled with smart stormwater management—improving both commutes and climate resilience.
3. Leesburg, Virginia: The town expanded its bypass and protected the historic downtown, proving you don’t have to bulldoze history to build for the future.

What a Bypass Could Do for Route 20

A bypass around the most congested town centers along Boston Post Road—Weston, Wayland, and Sudbury—could:

• Cut travel times by as much as 30% for commuters and delivery routes.
• Lower emissions, a priority for both suburban families and climate-conscious planners.
• Boost safety, especially for pedestrians and cyclists currently risking their necks to cross the road.
• Protect small-town character, by moving through-traffic where it belongs—around, not through.

A Call for Leadership

What’s missing? Political will. The kind that says we’re done settling for gridlock as a way of life. Leaders like Governor Charlie Baker made strides with infrastructure planning, but we need to finish the job. Instead, we get studies, surveys, and ribbon-cuttings for minor fixes while Route 20 continues to function as the parking lot of MetroWest.

If the state can commit billions to the Green Line extension and the North-South Rail Link, surely we can talk about a few hundred million to fix a roadway that affects tens of thousands of people every single day.

Let’s remember that infrastructure isn’t just about shiny new train stations or electric buses—it’s about getting people where they need to go safely and efficiently. A Boston Post Road bypass isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity.

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Aaron Ackerman is a columnist for Direct Line News. Reach him at Aaron.Ackerman@mcgopclub.com.

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