SOUTHWICK – Business owners on Congamond Road addressed the Select Board on Tuesday night to voice their concerns of the Congamond Road project and the conditions of that roadway.
Moe Shea, who owns The Hood Cafe, is frustrated with how the project is progressing and the negative effect it’s having on her customers. Shea explained to the Select Board that a lot of her regular customers aren’t coming lately due to the unsafe conditions on Congamond Road.
“It hurts my business and therefore hurts my family that residents resent taking Congamond Road,” said Shea.
The business owner on Congamond Road added that her customers sometimes have an issue accessing the parking lot at Red Riding Hood’s Basket as working crews for the road project will use their parking lot and take up space. Shea also mentioned that a lot of her customers are bicyclists during the warmer months since the business is close to the rail trail.
Parts of Congamond Road near The Hood Café and other businesses was completely flooded in April. (WNG File Photo)
Right near The Hood Cafe, Congamond Pizza Company and CPC Craft Meats & Smokehouse are also dealing with the affects of the Congamond Road project. Matthew Jolie, who owns both businesses, informed the Select Board that the contractor for the project, Pereira Construction, has dug up right near his businesses four times since April 1.
“It seems like we’re taking three steps back and one step forward,” said Jolie.
Jolie noted that some of his regular customers have told him they won’t come to his businesses right now because of the condition the road is in.
“People aren’t going to drive down there to get their car damaged,” said Jolie.
However, Jolie did say some of his customers have toughed it out.
“I’m very thankful, I do have a lot of loyal customers,” said Jolie.
While business owners are suffering from the conditions of Congamond Road, the Select Board understands their frustrations.
“We are extremely frustrated, you’re not alone in this,” said Select Board Chairman Joe Deedy. “We’re all disgusted, we get emails every day.”
In order to help resolve some of these issues on Congamond Road, Shea had a few suggestions for the Select Board. Shea asked if there could be some temporary blacktop or gravel put onto the road to make it more manageable for people to drive down the road. DPW Director Randy Brown, who was in attendance for the discussion, said that Pereira is expected to be paving Congamond Road in the next couple of weeks.
Shea went on to say that she’d like to see if there’s a way the community can be more consistently informed of the progress of the project. She also suggested maybe having some lawn signs created that could continue to encourage people to shop and eat at those businesses on Congamond Road.
Moe Shea, the owner of The Hood Café, discusses her concerns about the Congamond Road project. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
Select Board Vice-Chairman Russ Fox said that he’ll be reaching out to the Economic Development Commission to see if there’s anything they could do assist the businesses on Congamond Road.
On April 26, the Westfield News reported that the rainy conditions the weekend before had caused some hazards on Congamond Road. Rain poured onto portions of the road near The Hood Cafe, which hasn’t been paved yet.
During that weekend, it was noted by Select Board Clerk Doug Moglin that the water was deep and vehicles traveling through were trying to seek higher ground as well as opposing traffic driving close to each other in attempt to avoid the parts of the road with more water.
As a result, Mass DOT, who’s overseeing the project, had a meeting with Brown, Southwick Police, and Pereira Construction earlier this week.
One of the key measures that the DPW and Mass DOT will be having Pereira Construction take is to replace the silt sacs in the catch basins.
