North Adams Mayor Jennifer Macksey cuts the ribbon to reopen the Brown Street bridge. The brief ceremony Monday was held with temperatures well below freezing.
With the bridge open, drivers and ambulances can once again cross between River Street and West Main.
Mayor Jennifer Macksey is the first to drive across the bridge, closed since early 2023.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Mayor Jennifer Macksey led a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, Dec. 15, marking the official reopening of the Brown Street Bridge.
"We are very excited despite the cold weather," Macksey said before the ribbon-cutting. "… We are chipping away at these projects, but this is long overdue."
The bridge had been closed to all vehicle traffic since March 2023 after being deemed structurally deficient by the state Department of Transportation (MassDOT). The 26-foot steel structure, built in 1952, was flagged after its superstructure rating fell to 3.
The reopening follows a temporary repair project designed to safely restore access while the city and state determine a long-term plan. The temporary repair contract was awarded to J.H. Maxymillian at a cost of $349,920.
Funding for the project included $75,000 from state Chapter 90 road funds, with the balance was covered by state flood money the city had been previously awarded following a severe storm in July several years ago.
The mayor emphasized the critical need to reopen the span, particularly for public safety.
"The perception behind that was we have flooding on West Main Street and River Street, we have to use this bridge," she said. "We are very excited to have it open. Not only to alleviate traffic problems down at the intersection of Big Y and the intersection of City Hall, but to help our friends at emergency management with the ambulance."
She noted that without the bridge, Northern Berkshire EMS, which is headquartered almost directly across from the crossing, had an additional two minutes to their travel time.
"They had to go all the way around, and two minutes can be a lot when you are having a heart attack," she said.
The mayor was joined by city staff, City Councilors Lisa Blackmer and Andrew Fitch, representatives from Maxymillian and MassDOT, and state Rep. John Barrett III.
Barrett agreed with Macksey that it was important for the bridge to open sooner rather than later. He said he pushed the state to complete engineering.
"It was taking a while, and I started asking questions on why it was taking so long, and basically the engineering problem was straightened out," Barrett said. "It had been sitting there too long … It is key. You have the hospital this way, so it was important for us to open it."
Macksey thanked MassDOT and Maxymillian for their efforts, stating she had pushed to complete the project before the holiday season and considered the timely opening her Christmas present.
The bridge remains listed on MassDOT's long-term Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) for either preservation or full replacement. It is currently part of a single preservation project with a target construction date of 2027.
Following the ribbon cutting, Macksey was the first to cross the bridge in her vehicle.
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Letter: North Adams Parking Survey
Letter to the Editor
To the Editor:
I am inviting North Adams residents and visitors to take part in a citizen-developed survey about parking in our city. As a new resident, I was surprised to learn about the winter nighttime parking ban only after receiving a ticket. My appeal was denied, despite the fact that the ban was not proactively communicated. Information online is scattered, and enforcement dates appear inconsistent. In five other Massachusetts communities where I have lived, I never encountered a total winter parking ban.
Conversations with neighbors and local friends suggest that communication failures are a recurring issue for drivers here. From parking meters without posted enforcement hours, to Mass MoCA event parking, to the winter overnight ban, residents and visitors alike are left confused. To encourage better communication, I believe tickets issued without clear notice should be waived. With the city already investing in CodeRed alerts and maintaining a downtown marquee, it should not be difficult to keep drivers informed of parking rules.
I know I'm just one person with a limited view of the bigger picture. That's why I'm hoping this survey will collect a wide range of experiences and ideas. I'll share the results with City Council so we can push for clearer communication and better parking policies. Please take a few minutes to fill it out and make sure your voice is heard.
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