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The Lakeway bridge has been one-lane since 2012; it will reopen as two lanes with pedestrian access on Friday.

Reconstructed Pittsfield Bridge to Reopen on Friday

Staff ReportsiBerkshires
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The long closed Lakeway Drive bridge will be reopened two lanes of traffic on Friday after a $2.7 million reconstruction.
 
The bridge over an inlet of Onota Lake near Peck's Road had been on the state's bridge repair list since 2000. 
 
The concrete bridge was closed in 2012 after it was found to be structurally deficient. The 1936 span showed significant corrosion, spalling of the concrete, and severe deterioration of its steel girders, which caused the bridge to be load-restricted. A temporary, one-lane steel bridge was installed over the older bridge, with stop signs on each end.
 
The state Department of Transportation put the project out to bid in 2019 with the anticipation all work would be completed in 2021. 
 
The temporary bridge was closed on Aug. 17 to facilitate rehabilitation operations which included new precast abutments, precast beams, and railing and approach work. The newly-reconstructed bridge will be open for travel by late afternoon on Friday.
 
The project also includes additional construction operations, such as paving the roadway, conducting pavement markings work, and removing the detour at the Controy Pavilion, which are anticipated to be completed in the spring 2021.
 
The cost of the bridge rehabilitation project was $2,688,888 and the contractor for the project is New England Infrastructure of Hudson. It was funded through the 2019 Transportation Improvement Plan.
 
MassDOT said it appreciates the patience of the traveling public during this necessary repair and maintenance work.
 
Drivers who are traveling through the area should reduce speed and use caution. All scheduled work is weather dependent.

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Pittsfield CPA Committee Funds Half of FY24 Requests

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A few projects are not getting funded by the Community Preservation Committee because of a tight budget.

The projects not making the cut were in the historic preservation and open space and recreation categories and though they were seen as interesting and valuable projects, the urgency was not prevalent enough for this cycle.

"It's a tough year," Chair Danielle Steinmann said.

The panel made its recommendations on Monday after several meetings of presentations from applications. They will advance to the City Council for final approval.  

Two cemetery projects were scored low by the committee and not funded: A $9,500 request from the city for fencing at the West Part Cemetery as outlined in a preservation plan created in 2021 and a $39,500 request from the St. Joseph Cemetery Commission for tombstone restorations.

"I feel personally that they could be pushed back a year," Elizabeth Herland said. "And I think they're both good projects but they don't have the urgency."

It was also decided that George B. Crane Memorial Center's $73,465 application for the creation of a recreational space would not be funded. Herland said the main reason she scored the project low was because it didn't appear to benefit the larger community as much as other projects do.

There was conversation about not funding The Christian Center's $34,100 request for heating system repairs but the committee ended up voting to give it $21,341 when monies were left over.

The total funding request was more than $1.6 million for FY24 and with a budget of $808,547, only about half could be funded. The panel allocated all of the available monies, breaking down into $107,206 for open space and recreation, $276,341 for historic preservation, and $425,000 for community housing.

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