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Lenox Roads Undergoing Major ReconstructionBy Jonathan Del Sordo
iBerkshires Intern
10:07AM / Thursday, August 06, 2009
LENOX, Mass. — The town has an ambitious schedule for its more than $7.5 million road reconstruction over the next two years.
"It's been a busy summer, and there's an even busier road ahead," said Jeff Vincent, head of the Department of Public Works. "All our plans are set — now all we have to do is stay on schedule."
The Church Street reconstruction project now under way. The reconstruction of the road, sidewalks and installation of period lighting is set to be done before winter, said Vincent. This $1.6 million project is only the first of three phases the DPW has in place its road repair project.
The state public works grant the town received just over a month ago for $950,000 is set for Phase 2, which won't begin until the first phase is completed. This centers around improvements to Franklin Street, the one-way portion of Housatonic Street and a short stretch of Walker Street.
"We're trying to go as fast as we can, but with all these storms lately it's put a big dent in our gravel, blacktop and stone budgets," said Vincent. "The second phase's blueprints are ready to go; we'll just have to do one thing at a time as quick as we can." That project is slated to begin in spring 2010.
The deadline for the Vincent's registration for state Transportation Impact Program (or TIP) dollars for the third phase was set for June 10 for the third phase. Vincent says he's been in contact with the state and blueprints for the reconstruction of West Street have been looked over numerous times.
"We don't really know for sure when we'd get the answer we wanted back from them. If not, we should see a few [federal] stimulus dollars coming our way. Plus, it's long over a year from now and we know what we have to do. It's a waiting game” said Vincent.
The third phase of the road construction repairing West Street from the town center to the Stockbridge will cost an estimated $5 million. It will include new curbing, upgrading the drainage and constructing an 8-foot wide handicapped-accessible multi-use path alongside. This project is set to begin late summer 2010.
Vincent is worried about the traffic situation, especially dealing with hundreds of cars flooding out of Tangelwood on West Street on most summer nights. "All we need now for this project is get a clear understanding of the traffic control, which is already too hectic to begin with," he said.
Vincent added that there will be more phases of work to come after these three: "I just hope we work efficiently to get things done. Then, more projects and, hopefully, more grants." |
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