WESTFIELD—In anticipation of traffic and parking issues that may come with the International Air Show in a week, local, state and federal agencies are working together to try and make sure the impact is minimal.
According to Westfield Police Capt. Larry Valliere, the Westfield and Massachusetts State Police Departments, along with the US Air National Guard and Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) have worked together to try and create a traffic and parking plan that will help to minimize vehicle back-up and correct mistakes made during the 2010 air show.
A photo of a layout of the International Air Show parking areas.
“There are going to be delays but there have been significant changes made from 2010,” Valliere said.
According to Valliere, while each agency has participated in preparing for the traffic, it has been MassDOT who has perhaps contributed the most.
“MassDOT really got involved heavily,” he said.
Valliere said that MassDOT was able get the toll plaza demolition and reconstruction ahead of schedule, which reduces a possibility of a back-up coming off of Interstate 90. In addition, the bridge on Southampton Road has been temporarily reopened completely, which Valliere said will allow for police to open additional traffic lanes on the bridge if they need to.
It is expected that work on the bridge will resume following the air show.
He also said that MassDOT provided traffic advice for the plan.
“With them sitting down at the table and providing expertise with traffic flow was crucial to the plan,” he said.
Valliere also said that there will be message boards along Interstate 90 and city roads that will provide updated information for travelers about traffic and how full parking lots are. In addition, he said that the International Air Show’s website as well as WSKB 89.5 FM will have regular traffic and parking updates.
Parking management will be done differently than how it was done in 2010, Valliere said.
“There was really no organization to how lots were filled,” Valliere said of the previous show.
Valliere said that there will be 27 additional police officers observing traffic flow and constriction, then modifying the flow according to how congested roads get and how full lots become. Also, rather than gathering donations for parking at the entrance of the base like what occurred in 2010, Valliere said that this will be gathered at the entrances of the parking lots. Parking lots will also open earlier than previously according to Valliere, with lots opening at 6:30 a.m.—a full 90 minutes before the opening of the gates.
According to press releases from the Air National Guard, a total of eight parking lots are available during the air show, labeled A through H. Of those eight, A, B, E, F G and H are general parking with shuttle services provided at A F and G, as well as handicap parking. Lot E is for RVs.
Regarding reserved parking, lot D is for VIP parking that comes with the purchase of an Eagle’s Nest ticket for the show and lot C is reserved parking that costs $15. There is a link on the website to view all of the parking information. There is also handicap parking for the air show, and there are some lots that also provide complimentary shuttle service to the events.
Also, the parking donations are an opportunity to donate $10, which, according to the site, will go toward charitable causes that “include the Boys & Girls Club, Kamp for Kids, The Carson Center, the USO, Westfield Youth Athletics, Military Family Readiness Group, the Westfield High School Music Program, and more.”
