10 Most Dangerous Intersections In Pittsfield

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
01:16AM / Monday, September 23, 2013Print Story | Email Story

The intersection of Dalton Avenue and Cheshire Road is the ninth most dangerous intersection in Pittsfield.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield has the most dangerous intersections in the county, according to the state Department of Transportation.

MassDOT released its strategic highway safety plan this month with the aim to reduce fatalities and serious injuries by 20 percent, and by 50 percent by 2030.

The state has pored over crash data from 2008 to 2010 and has listed the county's worst intersections to prioritize with improvements.

Statewide, the characteristics of fatal crashes include 51 percent of vehicle occupants did not use a seat belt; 48 percent involved crossing lane lines; 29 percent involved drunken driving; 28 percent involved speeding; 23 percent were at intersections; 16 percent involved young drivers; 17 percent involved pedestrians; 13 percent involved motorcycles; 13 percent involved elderly drivers; 5 percent involved commercial trucks, and 1 percent were in work zones.

During the two-year time frame, there were 40 fatalities, 2,308 serious injuries and 11,668 damaged vehicles in Berkshire County.

While the data is regarded as incomplete by county planners, the state's information shows that the majority of crashes happen in the city. The intersections aren't ranked by the number of crashes but rather the amount of damage caused by them.

Below are the top 10 most dangerous intersections in the county:

No. 10: Dalton Avenue and Merrill Road
This intersection, also at Allendale, saw 24 crashes that caused significant damage; six included injuries.

No. 9: Dalton Avenue and Cheshire Road This intersection might be considered the same as Merrill Road, but this section has seen 19 accidents with seven of them causing injury.

No. 8: East Street and Second Street This intersection between the one-lane Second Street and the multilane East Street had 17 crashes, eight of which caused injury.

No. 7: Berkshire Crossing With the shopping plaza, Wendys and whole lot of traffic converging, Berkshire Crossing has seen 15 accidents with 10 causing serious injury.

No. 6: Fenn and First Streets This busy intersection near City Hall has low visibility. Drivers should take extra caution when turning here because there have been 20 crashes, with nine of them causing injury.

No. 5: South Street and West Housatonic Street
Right near Park Square, this intersection leading out of town toward the MassPike or onto Route 20 toward New York sees heavy traffic and has been the location of 36 crashes with seven of them causing serious injury.

No. 4: North Street and Linden Street
The only intersection in the top 10 to have a recorded fatality in the two-year time frame, this intersection has seen 24 total crashes, nine causing injury and the one fatality.

No.3: Dalton Avenue and Benedict Road
If there is an accident here, it causes injury. This intersection has seen 15 accidents and all of them involving serious injuries.

No. 2: Tyler Street and First Street
At least if there is an accident here, those injuried don't have far to go to get to Berkshire Medical Center. Unfortunately, 15 people had to take that trip out of only 17 crashes.

No. 1: Linden Street and Center Street
This is the only intersection in the county to make the top 200 most dangerous intersections in the state but county officials say it would toward the top if the traffic volume was similar to those in the east end of the state. This intersection has seen 20 crashes causing damage and 16 injuries.

Tags: accident, intersection, MassDOT, motor vehicle accident, rankings,

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Berkshire Law Enforcement Officials Endorse Fenton for Governor's Council

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:11PM / Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Michael Fenton, a Springfield attorney, ran unsuccessfully for the 8th District seat on the council in 2022. He is challenging incumbent Tara Jacobs of North Adams.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Ranking Berkshire law enforcement officials are putting their weight behind a Springfield lawyer for Governor's Council in the September Democratic primary over North Adams incumbent Tara Jacobs.

The Berkshires' District Attorney Timothy Shugrue, Sheriff Thomas Bowler, and Clerk of Courts Lisa Denault-Viale touted Michael Fenton's experience and approach over Jacobs, who bested him and two other attorneys in 2022.

The Governor's Council advises the governor on matters relating to judicial appointments, treasury warrants, pardons and commutations, and a number of other important executive functions. The winner of the primary will represent the 8th District, which covers more than 100 cities and towns including North Adams, Adams, Pittsfield, Greenfield, Northampton and Springfield, as there is no other candidate on the November ballot.

Gathering at Park Square on Wednesday morning, Shugrue said Jacobs does not provide the representation Berkshire County requires and deserves.

"This individual [Fenton] would conduct himself with a great deal of common sense and confidence," Bowler said.

Fenton said there are only 11 Superior Court judges assigned to Western Mass, and that too few of them are from Berkshire County.

"At one time there were four vacancies. That left only seven judges serving the entire 102 cities and towns of the western region. Seven judges serving 102 cities and towns at a time when you add Hampden County, Springfield, Holyoke, and Chicopee in, at a time when there were over 100 pending murder cases. Seven judges for 100 pending murder cases," he said.

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