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Utility workers replace a pole on West Street that was sheared off when an SUV hit it. The tracks of the SUV can be seen in the snow.

Car Shears Utility Pole Closing Pittsfield's West Street

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A portion of West Street is closed after a sport utility vehicle hit and broke a utility pole Wednesday morning.

Crews are currently working to clean up the area. The pole was broken into multiple pieces, some still attached to the wires.

There are no known injuries at the time and the area is not believed to have lost power.

Around 7 a.m., the Pittsfield Police Department received a report of a two-car accident in which one vehicle hit the pole. Unconfirmed posts on Facebook say one vehicle pulled out in front of the other, causing it to cross lanes and shear into the pole. 



"The pole got sheared down and some wires were down across West Street," Sgt. Shaun Gariepy reported.

The incident closed a section of West Street between Valentine Road and Nottingham Drive, with traffic directed down Valentine Road and Jason Street.

This story will be updated if more information is received.


Tags: motor vehicle accident,   utility pole,   

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Pittsfield Park Getting Basketball Court Renovations

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The basketball courts at Dorothy Amos Park will see some renovations for players of all ages who use them.  

On Thursday, the Conservation Commission OK'd court paving and repainting on the property at 320 West St. One of the courts will be milled, and all three will be repainted. 

The park, which also has a playground and seating areas, is along the West Branch of the Housatonic River, and the work requires ConCom approval. Dorothy Amos Park is a popular recreation spot in the West Side neighborhood, and is home to the Beat the Streets youth summer basketball league. 

Conservation Agent Shannon Poulin reported concern about a tree with roots growing through one of the courts, and that the tree will more than likely need to be cut down. 

"Other than that, I mean, the courts already exist, and it's just an upgrade," she said. 

Commissioner Jonathan Lothrop commented that he has seen roots become a problem long after the tree is removed. As a taxpayer, he would like to see the tree's root system removed to avoid spending more money on it in the future. 

Work was approved with two special conditions: all materials are stored outside of the resource areas, and erosion controls are to be placed along the fence line before work begins.

In other news, commissioners issued 20 orders of conditions for the filling of an isolated wetland on property located at 100 Dan Fox Drive, or Bousquet Sport.  

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