DIRECTION HELP!! Acton/Westford to Boston (Lowell, Cambridge: live in, commute, area)

[Morgandl]

Hello,

I recently moved to the Avalon Acton (I technically live in a Westford building but it's really Acton) off of 2A in the Nagog area. I commute into Cambridge and currently take 2A straight to 2 and onto Alewife where I take the red line in. It's taking me 1 45min because of traffic in the morning. I don't know the area at all so I'm wondering if anybody has any other ways to get to Alewife station. I'm trying to find some back roads that would cut off time. It's only 20 miles and it takes me 1 20 mins to get there and the other 25 mins is the subway.

Help!!

[brightdoglover]

No back roads that I know of.
If you don't leave the Westford area by 6:30am, you're in traffic as you describe. The few times I've had to make that drive, I've gone into town (for me, Belmont/Cambridge at 6:30, arrive by seven, and go somewhere for breakfast.

[BabaAus]

It might be faster sometimes to go cross-country. Across from the supermarket (used 2B Triple A - is now Donelan's?), turn left on Strawberry Hill, at the + intersection go left on Pope and down the hill and turn right on Westford (I think it is). Follow that out to Lowell Road, turn right and eventually you'll emerge in Concord center next to The Colonial Inn on the rotary. Straight through the rotary on 2A and bear right at The Antiquarian Museum. Follow that to the lights and you'll emerge eastbound on Route 2 at Crosby's Corner intersection (bottom of big hill). If nothing else, it's a prettier ride. ;-)