Fall River Industrial Park businesses calling for Exit 8 redesign

Every week, sometimes more, there is a crash. Another car and driver become victim to the terrors of Exit 8.

FALL RIVER — Every week, sometimes more, there is a crash. Another car and driver become victim to the terrors of Exit 8.

It is time to change that, members of the Fall River Industrial Park Association said Thursday.

The group will begin lobbying for the state to study and redesign Exit 8A from Route 24 north that feeds into Commerce Drive, the entrance to the industrial park.

“There is not a week that goes by that there is not a car in a ditch just before Exit 8,” said Karl Hetzler, the president of FRIPA and owner of H&S Tool, on Airport Road. “There is also flooding at that exit ramp. When we have a severe rain, we have inches of water on the ramp.”

FRIPA represents more than 60 companies in the industrial park. There are more businesses in the adjacent commerce park and biopark.

Between the three parks, the companies employ almost 7,000 people.

That success brings problems.

Route 24 and Route 79 northbound merge together just a half mile south of Exit 8A. Cars on Route 79 have to cross two lanes of traffic to get to that exit.

There are accidents caused by some cars crossing traffic lanes and others slowing down for the exit ramp, Hetzler said. Traffic also backs up on the exit ramp where cars have to wait at a traffic light for Commerce Drive.

The problems going into the park are most intense during the morning rush. In the afternoon, the problem reverses itself. It can take up to 15 minutes some days to get through the intersection of Airport Road and Commerce Drive, FRIPA members said.

“Isn’t it amazing how difficult it is to get out of here at 3:30,” Hetzler said. “It is a free-for-all.”

Hetzler said he has spoken with Rep. Carole Fiola, who is organizing a meeting with FRIPA members and representatives of the state Department of Transportation.

“We would like them to at least come down to look at it to see what could be done,” he said.

Email Kevin P. O’Connor at koconnor@heraldnews.com.