BOSTON – Senator Michael R. Knapik (R-Westfield) and Representative Don Humason (R-Westfield) announced today that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing on the Feeding Hills Road (Route 187) reconstruction project on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at 6:30pm in the Munger Hill Elementary School cafeteria. The hearing is intended to allow the public to become fully acquainted with the project, ask questions, and address concerns.
“I am pleased the community will have an opportunity to hear more about the plans for Route 187. This is a vital component to the construction process,” Senator Knapik remarked. “This project that has been in the works for almost 15 years. Thanks to our partners at the federal, state, and local level, we have identified funding sources and taken many of the steps necessary to finally make this project a reality,” Knapik continued.
“I would encourage anyone who will be impacted by the Route 187 project to attend the meeting,” added Rep Humason.
Plans for the Route 187 improvements have been discussed for many years. The conversation began in the late 90s but has hit several hurdles along the way. While the City of Westfield is planning to address the needs along Route 187 from Route 20 to the Agawam border, the project has been broken down into three phases. Phase I, which spans Feeding Hills Road, will include roadway widening and reconstruction to improve pedestrian and bicycle access, improvements to sightlines, updates to drainage infrastructure, culvert replacements, erosion and sedimentation controls, and other operational and safety upgrades.
Phase I is expected to cost $5.4 million, which has been identified in the State’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and the federal Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012. The City Council has already approved funding for land taking and right-of-way issues. City and State officials are hopeful construction will being by Spring 2014.
The plans for the project will be on display in the cafeteria one-half hour before the hearing begins for the public’s review. An engineer from the Department of Transportation as well as city officials will be available to answer any question. Written statements may also be mailed to the MassDOT and should be addressed to Thomas F. Broderick, P.E., Chief Engineer, MassDOT, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, Attention: Project Management Section, Project File No. 604442.
