Rapid Deterioration Fully Closes Pecks Road Bridge

Detours have been set because of the closed bridge.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Rapid deterioration of the Pecks Road bridge has led to its closure until further notice and a hopefully expedited process to replace the entire structure.

The bridge was fully closed to traffic on Monday following an inspection from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation that found six areas of deterioration. Repair work is slated to begin in August by Rifenburg Contracting Corp. and the city says it continues to work closely with MassDOT on steps ahead.

Work will include demolition and reconstruction of the bridge over Onota Brook that has been reduced to one lane for five years. A detour has been routed from Pecks Road to Onota Street, Vin Herbert Boulevard, and Valentine Road.

"Today, upon a 6-month routine inspection, the state found signs of rapid deterioration and ordered the bridge to be closed," Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities Ricardo Morales wrote in an email.

"We are now moving towards having the bridge replaced in one go, as opposed to splitting the work in phases and maintaining traffic flow. This has some setbacks but overall the project should be completed faster."

The bid was awarded to the contracting company for $1,535,420 with a 10 percent construction administration budget and a 10 percent contingency budget, bringing the total estimated cost to $1,842,504.

Morales reported that the city has multiple authorizations for funding from previous years and a state Small Bridge grant that will cover all of the costs. He said a schedule will be shared once the contractor finishes changing the construction approach.

• settlement in the wearing surface along the east curb, full length x 3 feet wide by up to 2" deep (This aligns with bay 17)
• buckling of beam 18 along with a gap between the deck and the beam forming up to 1/4"
• beam 17 bottom flange is distorted up to 1/4" full length
• beam 16 bottom flange is distorted 3/4" full length. (Beam has several holes in the flange and web)
• beam 14 has holes at the north end and the web is distorted 1-1/4" out of the plane
• beam 13 web is distorted 5/8" out of the plane

For questions, contact the Engineering Division at 413-499-9327. 

 

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.