A new road, which means new directions

Alright, everyone, this is important. If you're driving into Salem and plan to take Rte. 1A South into our bewitching seaport, you need to be aware of some changes to the traffic pattern.

The "Bridge Street Bypass Road" opened a week ago, and I must admit that I have developed a certain fondness for this beautiful new road that travels along Salem's North River, connecting downtown Salem with the Beverly/Salem Bridge (AKA Veterans Memorial Bridge). There is far less traffic on Bridge Street, which is great for automotive travel.

Here's what you need to know while GPS systems and online mapping programs catch up with Salem's progress:

If you are coming into Salem via Rte. 114 or Lowell Street/Boston Street and eventually connect with Rte. 1A south, you now have to turn right at the intersection after the St. Peter's Street intersection. There is a sign that indicates a right turn for Rte. 1A south, or stay straight for Rte. 1A North.

If you are coming into Salem from Beverly, after crossing the Veterans Memorial Bridge, you should turn left onto Bridge Street if you want to access the Clipper Ship Inn, Coffee Time Bakeshop, or any of the businesses on Bridge Street. This is also the direction to go if your destination is Pickering Wharf, Winter Street, Salem Common, Winter Island or Salem Willows.

If you are coming from Beverly into Salem and your destination is Salem Center, Summer Street, or Chestnut Street you should stay straight on the Bypass Road.

If you end up on the Bypass Road by accident, fret not. Heading north, you can turn right onto Bridge Street at the light before the bridge. Bridge Street will bring you back to Salem Center quite quickly (less traffic, you know). If you are driving south and find yourself on the Bypass Road unintentionally, turn left at the light onto Rte. 1A and you will find yourself coming up a hill to the familiar intersection with Winter Street where 1A South turns Right.

Either way, enjoy the Bypass Road. As I said, it's a lovely drive along the North River.

Construction in Salem

Alas, progress occasionally has some aches and pains. Salem is experiencing some of these now - but it is going to be very much worth the aggravation when all is said and done!

If you are coming into Salem via Route 114 East (from Route 128, perhaps), please be prepared for some delays along North Street when you enter Salem on Rte. 114. Crews are finishing up a fantastic North Street improvement project with line painting this week. For those of us who have been driving North Street daily during the improvements, it is exciting to see the end of the project is in site - and the road improvements look great!

Further along North Street at the intersection of Rte. 114 and Rte. 107, or North Street and Federal Street, there is a lot of construction happening as Salem prepares for a long awaited Court expansion. This project is just beginning, so we will see many months of lane shifts and construction that will result in a beautiful new court facility. For more information on traffic interruption due to the Court project, visit the City of Salem web site at www.salem.com.

Finally, on Bridge Street between North Street (Rte. 114) and Winter Street (Rte. 1A) there is construction going on that will complete the Bridge Street bypass road. This project is expected to be complete - and the new road opened - in mid-August. That will be very exciting for everyone traveling between Salem and Beverly.

If you are coming into Salem from Rte. 128 and would like to avoid the construction entirely, take Exit 26 for Lowell Street and follow Lowell Street straight into Salem - it will become Main Street and then Boston Street before it ends at Essex Street / Rte. 107. Turn left on Essex Street and follow straight through two lights. Essex Street will end at Washington Street. Turn left on Washington Street and then take your first right onto Church Street. The Museum Place parking garage will be on your right at the end of Church Street.