Rte. 3

Playing the role of Rte. 24 today is Rte. 3, which State Police advise ground to a near halt shortly before noon due to an apparently unrelated trio of incidents:

A rollover northbound near Derby Street sent two people to the hospital. Ten minutes later, a couch on top of a vehicle fell off on the southbound side of the same stretch of road, which forced a driver to swerve to avoid the sudden menace, only the car then rolled over as well, sending two more people to the hospital, with minor injuries.

Not long after, a car hit a deer on the northbound side by Exit 13 in Hanover. State Police add:

The deer ran off into the woods after causing damage to the vehicle.

Motorists are no doubt being advised to be alert for incoming meteors and newly erupting volcanoes.

UPDATE: No meteors yet, but there was a dishwasher.

The state's opened up its traffic cameras to the public, so now you can see what state traffic engineers see along Rte. 128, the Southeast Expressway, Rte. 3 north of 128, three spots on I-93 between 128 and the Zakim and near the Sagamore Bridge.

Seems the towns along Rte. 3 north of 128 are trying to come up with a branding campaign to make their towns more attractive to business - something along the lines of "Rte. 128," only they can't actually name the road because they wouldn't want people to think they have anything to do with those trashy towns along Rte. 3 on the South Shore and all:

... Most people involved in the branding process believe traditional advertising will play a small role in spreading the campaign's message. Instead the campaign may use professional channels ranging from traditional trade shows to online videos and blogs. ...

Ed. snark note: Like I should talk. I used to sit near the reporter who came up with "MetroWest" as a replacement for "Greater Framingham."

Tim takes a photo of a guy driving an SUV with one foot out the window. On Rte. 3.