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I-91 Lane, Ramp Closures Begin This Weekend

WAMC

After months of planning and preparation, work is set to begin in earnest on a major highway project in western Massachusetts. The rehabilitation of the elevated portion of Interstate 91, known as the I-91 viaduct, through downtown Springfield will mean longer commutes and perhaps parking problems for the next two years.

MassDOT announced this week the lane reductions and ramp closures will be put into effect beginning Sunday evening – hence impacting the Monday morning commute – so that its contractor can begin the job to replace the entire road deck of the six-lane 2.5 mile long elevated highway that is traveled by 70,000 vehicles on an average weekday.

The plan is to reduce the number of travel lanes by one in each direction and close seven ramps and connectors leading to and from the highway. Also, hundreds of parking spaces located beneath the highway will be off limits from time-to-time as the work progresses.

Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack, discussing the project earlier this year, asked motorists for patience.

" I apologize in advance for the inconvenience," said Pollack.  " People should know a lot of time and effort goes into developing traffic management plans, planning ahead."

The plans to mitigate the impact of the highway reconstruction include the devising and publicizing of detours and alternate routes on the project’s website, electronic highway signs with real-time traffic information, the resurfacing of city streets to support additional vehicles, and new traffic cameras to monitor for accidents and bottlenecks.

Downtown office workers have been provided updates on the project through their employers. Restaurants, theaters, and sports teams have sent email blasts to patrons advising them to check ahead and leave early before coming downtown at night, which is when the actual work is being done.

"  I think we are prepared," said Jeff Ciuffred, president of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce. " Now it is up to the drivers to follow the signs."

       Ciuffreda  praises MassDOT and the City of Springfield for the planning that has occurred, but points out the region has never seen a project of this magnitude and duration since the viaduct was constructed in the 1960s.

"There is always a little bit of concern, but I am very comfortable those concerns have been heard and addressed in the planning," said Ciuffreda.

Ciuffreda, who commutes on I-91 to his downtown Springfield office, said he’s been driving an alternate route for the last two weeks to get use to his new morning routine.

MassDOT estimates the lane reductions, and a 40 MPH speed limit, will add 15 minutes to the travel time through the construction zone.

Springfield Chief Development Officer Kevin Kennedy will be keeping an eye on how the ramp closures and detours impact downtown commerce.

"People always worry about these things, and rightfully so," said Kennedy. " But in the final analysis if MassDOT and our agencies have done their jobs we should be alright."

Kennedy said the Springfield Parking Authority and the Business Improvement District will direct people to alternate parking spots when the spaces underneath the highway are closed.

" I think we are going to have an adequate parking supply as of right now," Kennedy said.

The $200 million contract for the project includes financial incentives for the contractor to finish the work ahead of the December 2017 completion date. There are financial penalties if the job is not finished by the end of 2017.

The record-setting tenure of Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno. The 2011 tornado and its recovery that remade the largest city in Western Massachusetts. The fallout from the deadly COVID outbreak at the Holyoke Soldiers Home. Those are just a few of the thousands and thousands of stories WAMC’s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill has covered for WAMC in his nearly 17 years with the station.
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