PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The new South Mountain Road will open to the public on Thursday, Dec. 19.

The road was closed in August 2011 as part of the reconfiguration and extension of the runway at Pittsfield Municipal Airport. 

The newly constructed road segment is over a half-mile long and is aligned around the new airport runway safety areas. Except for some after winter restoration and cosmetic work, the road is finished, complete with striping, signage, drainage and guard rails.

City officials inspected the road in advance of this opening.
 
"The reopening of South Mountain Road is the completion of my promise to the residents of Ward 5 and the city as a whole," said Ward 5 City Councilor Jonathan Lothrop in a statement. "It demonstrates that neighborhood input can result in positive changes, as the original proposal was to close the road forever.  There is still work to be done, with additional tree plantings scheduled for Spring, and I will do everything possible to make the airport project as minimally disruptive as possible."