After months of preparation, construction work is to start in earnest on a major highway project in western Massachusetts.
MassDOT announced Tuesday that the major rehabilitation of the elevated part of Interstate 91 through downtown Springfield will begin in mid-December.
The number of travel lanes will be reduced by one in each direction. Seven ramps leading to and from the highway will be closed.
MassDOT boss Stephanie Pollock said detours will be in place and key intersections monitored by newly installed cameras.
" I apologize in advance for the inconvenience," Pollock said earlier this year. " But, people should know a lot of time and effort goes into developing traffic management plans."
The $200 million project to repair the 2.5 mile long I-91 viaduct is expected to take two years to finish.
