NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Watch out for road closures in the downtown as the city's crosswalks are embellished with original art over the next week. 

 

The painting began Tuesday, with some crosswalks completed and others getting some outlines down for later details. 

 

The work is expected to be finished in time for First Friday on June 6. 

 

On Wednesday, artist Nicole Senecal was painting the crosswalk at Main and Eagle, which will match the artwork at Main and Ashland. 

 

"For me, its spreading happiness, spread a little paint and get to make people feel happy," she said. "I'm grateful that North Adams is doing it so I can be a part of it. It's a really cool project."

 

Senecal's design was a path of beehive hexagons with flowers and leaves in blue, white, yellow and green.

 

At Marshall and Center streets, a wavy yellow design was painted by Gail Sellers and Dan Morgan. 

 

Some councilors have been advocating for some time for painted crosswalks, which were last done more than a decade ago by Art About Town. 

 

Councilor Andrew Fitch had promoted the idea most recently for painting crosswalks and electrical boxes. The boxes were painted last year and this year, the city put out a call for artists to paint eight crosswalks. 

 

Four artists were chosen and each are receiving an honorarium of $2,000 for design and implementation. The project is a collaboration of the North Adams Cultural District Committee, Assets for Artists, Fitch and Mayor Jennifer Macksey's office, and funded through the Cultural Council. 

 

Fitch thanked the mayor on Tuesday for moving forward with the project.

 

"Thank you so much for helping to brighten up downtown and really look forward to seeing those

completed," he said. 

 

The other crosswalks being painted are at Main Street and American Legion Drive and Holden, Center and Holden, Eagle and Church and Eagle Street and Center Street. Closures will run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

 

Holden Street, from Center Street to Main Street, will be closed on Wednesday, May 28, from 8 p.m. until late evening and possibly again on Thursday, May 29. The street will be open for the morning commute.