Weekly Construction Updates
Highway Division Updates
- Last week, the Highway Division:
- Repaired potholes on Chesterfield Road, Dimock Street and Winterberry Lane
- Prepped for new curbing on Manhan Street
- Installed, removed and/or repaired signs on Elm Street and North Elm Street
- Repositioned concrete blocks for protected bike lane on Elm Street
- Annual ward street sweeping operations are underway in Wards 1, 2 and 7
- Wards will be swept in the following order this year: 7, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- Federal Street remains reduced to one lane at the culvert crossing between Milton Street and Vernon Street until further notice
- Lovefield Street remains closed until further notice
- Old Wilson Road remains closed until further notice
- To report a pothole, please submit a request via the Pothole Repair Form; the largest potholes are filled first to alleviate hazards to vehicles; as hazards arise and are identified, they will be addressed
- To report an issue with a traffic sign, please submit a request via the Traffic Sign Issue Form
Dam & Flood Control System Vegetation Management
- The City has contracted with Cain’s Mechanical LLC for vegetation management on dams within the City’s watershed areas and at various locations throughout the levee and flood control system on both the Connecticut and Mill Rivers
- Work to mechanically remove unwanted woody growth and fallen trees and localized placement of rip rap for slope stabilization will be undertaken periodically system wide throughout the growing season
- The Contractor has completed spring mowing on the Mill River & Connecticut River levee systems; vegetation removal will resume later in the summer
Glendale Road Landfill Drainage Repairs
- The City has contracted with Murray Excavating to repair damaged drainage infrastructure at the capped landfill on Glendale Road
- The Contractor will access the site via Gate 2, so motorists should be alert and use caution as trucks are entering and exiting the landfill
- Transfer station hours for yard waste (Gate 2) will not be impacted by work
- The Contractor will be clearing for a temporary road and stockpiling materials this week
I-91 Bridges over Route 5 (Mount Tom Road), Railroad and Hockanum Road
- MassDOT has contracted with J.F. White, Inc. to construct roadway improvements to I-91 and at Exit 23 (formerly Exit 18)
- The project will replace the I-91 bridges over Route 5, the Railroad and Hockanum Road and construct safety and signal improvements at the exit interchange
- Construction is complete
- I-91 northbound will be reduced to one lane from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for median restoration this week
- Questions about the project should be directed to MassDOT District 2, project #606552
King Street Corridor Traffic Signal Pole Painting
- MassDOT has contracted with a painting contractor, Polar Vortex, to paint the poles of the traffic signals at Finn & King Streets, Finn & State Streets and King-North-Summer Streets
- The Contractor will continue painting this week:
- One-way alternating traffic will be in place on Finn & State Streets
- Two-way traffic will be maintained on King Street with turn lane to North Street closed
- Pedestrian detours may be in place
- Police detail will assist with traffic control
- Questions about the project should be directed to MassDOT District 2, project #607502
Northampton Bikeway (Mass Central Rail Trail) Resurfacing
- The City has contracted with Warner Bros., LLC to resurface the pavement on the Northampton Bikeway segment of the Mass Central Rail Trail between Bridge Road and State Street
- Details about the project can be viewed at Northampton Bikeway
- The project is substantially complete
- The Contractor will be working on punch list items in the upcoming weeks
Rocky Hill Greenway Multi-Use Path
- MassDOT has contracted with JL Construction Corp to construct a 0.5 mile multi-use path from the Manhan Rail Trail to Rocky Hill Road
- The project will improve pedestrian and bicycle facilities by connecting the residential areas along Rocky Hill Road and Ice Pond Drive to the New Haven and Northampton Canal/Manhan Rail Trail
- Trail is closed due to active construction and will remain closed to all access until the project is completed
- Rocky Hill Greenway Multi-Use Trail Map (pdf)
- Two subcontractors will be on-site this week:
- Henry's Tree Service will be chipping vegetation along the path's route and clearing trees along Rocky Hill Road; one-way alternating traffic may be in place along Rocky Hill Road; a police or flagger detail will assist with traffic control
- Medeiros Hydroseeding & Landscape Construction will be installing erosion control barriers
- Questions about the project should be directed to MassDOT District 2, project #608413
South Main Street Sewer Repair
- The City has contracted with Geeleher Enterprises Inc. to make a sewer repair in the vicinity of 143 South Main Street
- Project is complete
Tree Protection Zones
- The fencing that has been erected in areas of the City around trees is to protect them during the different phases of utility upgrades and other construction excavations that are within fifty (50) feet of a public shade tree. This protection policy (pdf) is a requirement under the City’s trench permit policy (pdf) and ensures that public shade trees are kept free and clear from trunk and root damage.
- Excavation contractors have a phased approach to utility upgrades where they replace the main lines first over multiple streets then return at a later date to install new services to homes and businesses. Once they complete these phases they will remove the tree protection and may erect them at another location where work has yet to begin. Their schedule, while followed closely by the DPW permit system, is largely based on their operational capacity and contractor availability.
Projects to Resume Spring 2025
Additional Information & Notifications
- An overview of all current Public Works projects can be found by going to Current Projects.
- Sign up for automatic notifications via the Notify Me system on the City's website. Please sign-in (at the top of the page) and then subscribe to the "Public Works" category under News Flash (at the bottom of the page).