SOUTHWICK – Residents have the opportunity to learn more about the upcoming Congamond Road reconstruction project during a public information session on Wednesday, Nov. 19.
Representatives from the town and Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) will be on-hand to provide more detailed information and answer questions about the proposed project.
Department of Public Works Director (DPW) Randy Brown said the main reason for the forum is to update residents on the project, which now includes sidewalks.
“There was a public hearing on this about a year and a half ago, but that design didn’t include sidewalks,” said Brown.
Brown said residents spoke in favor of sidewalks at that time and they are now in the 25-percent design plan.
“The sidewalks will run along the south side of Congamond Road from College Highway to the state line,” said Brown, adding that the road is just over a mile long.
The main reason for the inclusion of sidewalks is to connect the Southwick Rail Trail to the lakes, surrounding neighborhoods, and businesses in town.
“MassDOT requested we hold this meeting to give an update and get feedback,” Brown said.
Drawings of the project will be available that night and Brown said residents will be able to ask questions. The town is funding the design but the state will manage and pay for construction. Brown said he believes the project has been in the works for nearly a decade.
“We are following the Mass DOT schedule, which has construction slated for 2017,” said Brown.
The proposed sidewalks will be built in accordance with MassDOT standards and will be five-feet wide and will include a four-foot wide landscape strip between the road and sidewalk. The overall project aims to mitigate vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle safety concerns and improve stormwater drainage.
The public informational hearing will be held at 7 p.m. in the Southwick Town Hall Auditorium.
