LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — After being closed for more than two years, Gulf Road reopened on Wednesday for the season.

 

For the last week, the town Highway Department has been clearing up fallen trees and graded the stretch of road on both its side and Dalton's side on Wednesday, Lanesborough Department of Public Works Director Charlie Durfee said. 

 

The seasonal dirt road closed because of flooding caused by what was initially thought to be from a beaver dam that was located on the Pittsfield stretch. 

 

It was initially assessed that the beavers were blocking the culvert, but this may have been incorrect, Shedd said.

 

"The logs were clean-cut on each end, which suggested they were cut by a chainsaw," Shedd said 

 

The road often serves as a shortcut between Lanesborough and Dalton by drivers to avoid retail-related traffic at Allendale Plaza and Berkshire Crossing in Pittsfield. It runs about 1.7 miles from Route 8 near the Connector Road in Lanesborough, through Pittsfield and around the Boulders Reserve and comes out in Dalton, where it turns into High Street. 

 

A pool of water overtook the roadway last year, causing surface damage. The flowing water eroded the gravel road, creating rills and gullies that cut into the roadway, Pittsfield City Engineer Tyler Shedd said.