MassDOT On Schedule with Williamstown Multipurpose Trail

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. —The Massachusetts Department of Transportation said this week that operations are continuing as scheduled for the new pedestrian and bike shared-use path in Williamstown.

The remaining construction operations that need to be completed on this project include work on the parking area at Syndicate Road, paving the intersections on Route 7, final pavement markings on roadways and on the path, plantings, wetland replication areas, seeding and final cleanup. The project is weather dependent and subject to change without notice.

The project, which began in Feb. 2021, is anticipated to reach full beneficial use and be substantially complete in May 2023. At this time, the trail remains under construction and is closed to the members of public at all times. Trespassing in an active construction zone is prohibited and unsafe. 

The Town of Williamstown was responsible for the design of the bike path and will take ownership of the trail once it has been completed.

The project, once completed, will start on Syndicate Road and connect to North Street (U.S. Route 7) and then end at approximately 200 feet north of Main Street (Route 2). The scope of work consists of the construction of a paved/unpaved hard-packed shared-use path along land owned by the town, Williams College and other landowners that generally follows the southern bank of the Hoosic River.

The estimated cost of the project is $6 million. The contractor is J.H. Maximillian of Pittsfield.

MassDOT thanks the members of the public for their continued patience, and requests that they stay off the trail to allow crews to safely and efficiently complete scheduled work without interruptions and keep everyone safe.

ServiceNet Cuts Ribbon on Vocational Farm to 'Sow Seeds of Hope'

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
06:30AM / Saturday, May 18, 2024

Lori Carnute plants flowers at the farm and enjoys seeing her friends. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Smiles were all around as farmers, human service workers, and officials cut the ribbon Friday on ServiceNet's new vocational farm on Crane Avenue.

Whether it is planting flowers or growing fresh produce, the program is for "sowing seeds of hope" for those with developmental disabilities.

"What Prospect Meadow Farm is about is changing lives," Vice President of Vocational Services Shawn Robinson said.

"Giving people something meaningful to do, a community to belong to, a place to go every day and to make a paycheck, and again, I am seeing that every day from our first 17 farmhands the smiles on their faces. They're glad to be here. They're glad to be making money."

Prospect Meadow Farm Berkshires held a launch event on Friday with tours, music, snacks, and a ribbon cutting in front of its tomato greenhouse. The nonprofit human service agency closed on the former Jodi's Seasonal on Crane Avenue earlier this year.  

It is an expansion of ServiceNet's first farm in Hatfield that has provided meaningful agricultural work, fair wages, and personal and professional growth to hundreds of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities since opening in 2011.

Eventually, the farm will employ 50 individuals with developmental disabilities year-round and another 20 to 25 local folks supporting their work.

The pay is a great aspect for Billy Baker, who is learning valuable skills for future employment doing various tasks around the farm. He has known some of the ServiceNet community for over a decade.

"I just go wherever they need me to help," he said. "I'm more of a hands-on person."