Action Continues at YMCA Long Course Nationals

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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Three Monument Mountain swimmers helped the Westfield YMCA medley relay squad shave more than two seconds off its seed time in the prelimaries at the 2014 YMCA National Long Course Championships on Wednesday.
 
Rowan Rice, Emma Wilber and Caroline Bissaillon teamed up with Kelsey Johnstone to swim a time of 4 minutes, 39.41 seconds. It was the 42nd best time out of 59 quartets at the national meet.
 
One other Berkshire County swimmer was in action on Wednesday representing the Westfield Y. Williamstown's Emma Whitney, a student at Mount Greylock who swims for the Hoosac Valley cooperative team in the winter, swam in the 100-meter backstroke along with Wilber.
 
Wilber finished in 1:08.71, the 57th best time out of 157 swimmers in the prelims. Whitney posted a time of 1:09.78.
 
Rice also swam as an individual in the 50 breaststroke on Wednesday, finishing in 37.24.
 
The championships continue through Friday.
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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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