In February 9, 2017 in The Westfield News there was a front page article on a new Mass Turnpike Exit study.
A land taking option was said, would cost many millions of dollars and take as long as eight years! However, if the exit located at The Blandford Plaza was used it would only cost a few thousand dollars and take a couple of years to complete! This exit has been used legally and illegally for years!
The issue is not our tax dollars it is N.I.M.B.Y. (Not In My Back Yard)! People living on Chester Road and on Rte 20 do not want an exit in their town! In increased traffic would require substantial road word to be done! The increased traffic would also mean more speeding drivers and more car crashes in Blandford! In other words a turnpike exit in Blandford would benefit a host of people driving into The Berkshires but it would change forever a sleepy little New England town!
The reason that the hill towns have retained their charm is because since the Mass Pike was completed in the 1950s there has been no exit between Westfield and Lee!
Bill Hardie, Russell MA.
