Cape Cod Memorial Day traffic updates: Delays at the bridges?

Eric Williams, Cape Cod Times

As the Memorial Day weekend winds down, many visitors to Cape Cod start to think about heading home. That can lead to a tussle with traffic, especially around the bridges that cross the Cape Cod Canal.

So, we're going to pitch in with traffic updates throughout Monday, and, if necessary, suggest alternative routes to make the trip as easy as possible. Keep this link handy and check in for the most up-to-date information.

There are some ways to increase your chances of a smoother ride. According to the Cape Cod Commission, the early morning and late evening tend to be less busy in the traffic department. But weather can also play a role: on a sunny day at the end of a weekend, folks tend to linger on the Cape and that can lead to heavier traffic later in the day.

According to the National Weather Service, we're in for a mostly cloudy Memorial Day, with high temperatures in the mid-60s. There's also a chance of showers, mainly after 4 p.m. That could lead to some visitors deciding to leave Cape Cod a bit earlier in the day.

We hope everyone had a great weekend on the Cape. And we hope everyone has a safe journey home.

4:30 p.m. update: Traffic continues to ease, two-mile backup on Sandwich Road

At about 4:30 p.m. on Memorial Day, traffic on Route 6 westbound was backed up to Exit 61 (formerly Exit 3) in Sandwich.
At about 4:30 p.m. on Memorial Day, traffic on Route 6 westbound was backed up to Exit 61 (formerly Exit 3) in Sandwich.

Heading off-Cape at this point will still be a little sticky in the traffic department, but things are much less congested than earlier in the day. At about 4:30 p.m., traffic on Route 6 westbound was backed up from Exit 61 (formerly Exit 3) in Sandwich, adding about 18 minutes to the trip.

It might be a good idea to avoid Sandwich Road heading toward the Bourne Rotary on the Cape side of the canal, as there is a two-mile backup that adds significant time to the short trip between the Sagamore Bridge and the Bourne Bridge.

At about 4:30 p.m. there was a two mile backup on Sandwich Road approaching the Bourne Rotary.
At about 4:30 p.m. there was a two mile backup on Sandwich Road approaching the Bourne Rotary.

For folks heading to the Sagamore Bridge on Route 6 who plan to head toward a connection with Route 25 and Route 495, it may make sense to avoid Sandwich Road. A faster route would be to travel over the Sagamore Bridge, then use the Scenic Highway to make the connection.

The backup on Route 28 heading to the Bourne Rotary is down to a half mile, adding only four minutes to the journey.

3 p.m. update: Continued improvements in travel time on Route 6 westbound

At about 3 p.m. on Memorial Day, traffic on Route 6 westbound was backed up to an area near Exit 65 (formerly Exit 5) in West Barnstable.
At about 3 p.m. on Memorial Day, traffic on Route 6 westbound was backed up to an area near Exit 65 (formerly Exit 5) in West Barnstable.

The rather lackluster weather on Memorial Day may have inspired visitors to leave Cape Cod earlier than planned. After several hours of heavy traffic around noon, we are now seeing a smaller backup on Route 6 westbound.

At about 3 p.m., Route 6 traffic was backed up to a spot about midway between Exit 63 (formerly Exit 4) and Exit 65 (formerly Exit 5). This slowdown adds about 20 minutes or so to the journey.

Traffic approaching the Bourne Bridge on Route 28 is also doing better. The backup is down to about a mile, a delay of approximately 10 minutes.

1:30 p.m. update: Traffic eases slightly on Route 6 westbound

At about 1:30 p.m. on Memorial Day, traffic on Route 6 westbound was slightly less heavy than it had been earlier in the day. Route 6 was a better choice than Route 6A for the journey from the Orleans Rotary to the Sagamore Bridge.
At about 1:30 p.m. on Memorial Day, traffic on Route 6 westbound was slightly less heavy than it had been earlier in the day. Route 6 was a better choice than Route 6A for the journey from the Orleans Rotary to the Sagamore Bridge.

We don't know if it's a lull or a trend, but traffic on Route 6 westbound has eased slightly over the past hour or so. The journey from the Orleans Rotary to the Sagamore Bridge dipped below an hour for the first time since early this morning, now clocking in at 57 minutes.

There is still an approximately 12-mile backup on Route 6 westbound beginning just west of Exit 68 (formerly Exit 6). Route 6 still looks like a better alternative than Route 6A. This backup adds about 28 minutes to an off-Cape journey on Route 6.

There is an approximately two-mile backup approaching the Bourne Bridge on Route 28, adding about 10 minutes to the trip.

Noon update: Thick traffic on Route 6, backup building near Bourne Bridge

Around noon on Memorial Day it was very slow going on Route 6 westbound from beyond Exit 68 (formerly Exit 6) to the Sagamore Bridge. The approximately 15-mile distance was clocking in at 43 minutes.
Around noon on Memorial Day it was very slow going on Route 6 westbound from beyond Exit 68 (formerly Exit 6) to the Sagamore Bridge. The approximately 15-mile distance was clocking in at 43 minutes.

Traffic on Route 6 westbound to the Sagamore Bridge was backed up past Exit 68 (formerly Exit 6) around noon today, a stretch of about 15 miles that will take about 43 minutes to travel. A possible alternative route using Route 6A would shave about three minutes off the trip, but that move is a bit debatable because things can change quickly.

There's a more than two-mile backup approaching the Bourne Bridge on Route 28, but so far today the congestion in that area has been minor compared to Route 6.

The journey from the Orleans Rotary on Route 6 westbound was clocking in at about one hour and six minutes, a number that has remained relatively consistent over the last two hours or so.

11 a.m. traffic update: Slow going on Route 6 westbound

A look at Route 6 westbound traffic in the vicinity of Exit 59 (formerly Exit 2) in Sandwich around 11 a.m. on Memorial Day.
A look at Route 6 westbound traffic in the vicinity of Exit 59 (formerly Exit 2) in Sandwich around 11 a.m. on Memorial Day.

We're seeing significant slowdowns on the journey from the Orleans Rotary to the Sagamore Bridge. The first area of congestion runs from Exit 85 (formerly Exit 11) to Exit 83 (formerly Exit 10) in the Brewster/Harwich area.

Travel speed picks up a bit after that until you reach Exit 68 (formerly Exit 6) in Barnstable. Then things get downright sticky all the way to the Sagamore Bridge. A journey from the Orleans Rotary to the Sagamore Bridge on Route 6 westbound had climbed to one hour and nine minutes.

The journey on Route 6 westbound to the Sagamore Bridge was a bit of a slog around 11 a.m. on Memorial Day.
The journey on Route 6 westbound to the Sagamore Bridge was a bit of a slog around 11 a.m. on Memorial Day.

Traffic is also slow on Route 6A westbound from the intersection of Quaker Meetinghouse Road to the Sagamore Bridge is also slow, so that alternate route might not be worth the effort as of 11 a.m.

There's about a 1.5-mile backup approaching the Bourne Bridge on Route 28 and significant congestion on Sandwich Road near the Bourne Rotary, heading in the direction of the Bourne Bridge.

10 a.m. traffic update: Slowdowns pop up on Route 6A near Sagamore Bridge

As of 10 a.m. on Memorial Day, Route 6A westbound had started to jam up on the approach to the Sagamore Bridge. Traffic was also heavy on Route 6 westbound, with a journey from Exit 68 (formerly Exit 6) in Barnstable to the Sagamore Bridge clocking in at 32 minutes.
As of 10 a.m. on Memorial Day, Route 6A westbound had started to jam up on the approach to the Sagamore Bridge. Traffic was also heavy on Route 6 westbound, with a journey from Exit 68 (formerly Exit 6) in Barnstable to the Sagamore Bridge clocking in at 32 minutes.

Many folks use Route 6A westbound as a way to get around Route 6 congestion. We are beginning to see traffic backups on Route 6A in the Sandwich area, although it was still looking like a reasonable option around 10 a.m.

Traffic on Route 6 westbound continues to tighten. A journey from Exit 68 (formerly Exit 6) in Barnstable to the Sagamore Bridge was clocking in at about 32 minutes. A journey from the Orleans Rotary to the Sagamore Bridge on Route 6 was clocking in at one hour and three minutes.

The approach to the Bourne Bridge on Route 28 was still looking pretty good, although a backup is building on Sandwich Road on the approach to the Bourne Rotary.

9:15 a.m. traffic update: Congestion on Route 6 eastbound

Memorial Day traffic on Cape Cod was heating up at 9:15 a.m. A journey from the Orleans Rotary over the Cape Cod Canal was predicted to take an hour by Google Maps, roughly 20 minutes more than usual.
Memorial Day traffic on Cape Cod was heating up at 9:15 a.m. A journey from the Orleans Rotary over the Cape Cod Canal was predicted to take an hour by Google Maps, roughly 20 minutes more than usual.

Traffic is heating up on Route 6 eastbound. Numerous slowdowns are popping up and a journey from the Orleans Rotary over the Sagamore Bridge was predicted to take an hour, roughly 20 minutes longer than usual. This travel time seems likely to increase in the near future.

On a happier note, traffic is still moving well on Route 28 approaching the Bourne Bridge and Route 6A westbound.

8:30 a.m. traffic update: Moving well with a couple of slowdowns

As of 8:30 a.m. on Memorial Day, there were a couple of slowdowns on Route 6, but traffic was moving reasonably well.
As of 8:30 a.m. on Memorial Day, there were a couple of slowdowns on Route 6, but traffic was moving reasonably well.

We're seeing a slowdown on Route 6 westbound around Exit 82 (formerly Exit 10) in the Harwich/Brewster area. There is also about a one-mile slowdown at the approach to the Sagamore Bridge on Route 6 westbound. Otherwise traffic is moving well around Cape Cod.

Eric Williams, when not solving Curious Cape Cod mysteries, writes about a variety of ways to enjoy the Cape, the weather, wildlife and other subjects. Contact him at ewilliams@capecodonline.com. Follow him on X: @capecast.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod Memorial Day traffic: Bridge backups continue to ease

Advertisement