Thursday, 4:30 PM
Sagamore flyover passes first big test with flying colors
By Michael Levenson, Globe Staff
BOURNE -- The Sagamore flyover was billed as the asphalt answer to the infamous backups at the Sagamore Rotary that delayed the start of countless Cape Cod vacations. And Friday, in its first real test in the heat of summer traffic, it was.
As temperatures soared to record highs and motorists hauling bicycles, fishing rods and surfboards flocked to the Cape and Islands for the summer's traditional kickoff weekend, the $60 million flyover eased some of the area’s notorious traffic.
At 2 p.m., cars were rolling from Route 3 and Route 6 onto the Sagamore Bridge at a breezy 20 mph -- a far cry from the worst of some summers’ past, when crossing the Cape Cod canal seemed faster on foot than behind the wheel.
At 5:30 p.m., as more motorists hit the highway after work, cars were backed up for about a ˝ mile before the Sagamore Bridge, far less than the 5 or 6 mile backups that clogged Route 3 on most weekend nights last summer, said John Lamontagne, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Highway Department.
"Things are going smoothly," Lamontagne said. "We're pleased with the progress so far."
While state officials were anxiously monitoring the flow of cars, many motorists were getting their fist glimpse at the new flyover.
Some clearly were pleased.
"It was faster -- I'm sure that's the adjective of the day," said Giorgio Salvitti, 46, a vice president of sales at Florida Naturals Orange Juice, who was waiting for the Nantucket ferry in Hyannis.
