Route 2 Update: Closure and Detour

A portion of Route 2 that suffered significant damage due to flooding from Tropical Storm Irene remains closed from Mile Marker 21.6 in Florida to Mile Marker 27.5 in Charlemont.

Damage along the closed portion of Route 2 includes severe slope failures, roadway undermining and instability, eroded bridge approaches, mud slides, and culvert and retaining wall damage.

At Route 2 Mile Marker 25, flooding caused a river channel to relocate where the roadway and abutting rest area previously existed. 

The magnitude of the damage and significant repairs necessary will require an extended period of time to restore the roadway. 

MassDOT is committed to an accelerated repair process, beginning with slope stabilization in North Adams and Florida along with temporary repairs for a 3.5 mile segment of Route 2 in Savoy. 

MassDOT anticipates bidding for accelerated construction contracts to complete the reconstruction of the roadway will begin immediately next week.


A Detour Route with local signage is listed below.

From North Adams: 

Route 8, Adams, to Route 116 through Adams, Savoy, Plainfield, and Ashfield,

to Route 112 through Ashfield and Buckland,

to Route 2, East Charlemont.

Comments

[K B]

Now that Route 2 is open - will there be any assistance provided to open Black Brook Rd in Savoy? This road is used by many travelers as a connector road to Rt 116, 8A, etc.

Thank you...
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Thanks for the comment. Black Brook Road which intersects Route 2 in Savoy near the Florida line is a Town road and responsibility.

[Bert Ramgren]

Is route 2 open yet?
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Yes. Opened in mid-December.

[Hank]

Is route 8A between route 116 and Charlemont open yet? That's the route that goes by the Kenneth Dubuque camp.
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Route 8A is open.

[Tim]

Is the detour safe for buses and trucks?
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Yes, the official posted detour for Route 2 is safe for trucks and buses.

[DC]

If I want to get to Conway MA from Boston MA - can I use Route 2 to the Conway exit on monday 11/28/11?
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Route 2 remains closed west of that point in Florida-Charlemont, from MM 21 to 27.

[Keenan]

Is Mohawk trail state forest still accessible?
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The DCR State Park on Route 2 in Charlemont is not accessible at this time.

[Jim Gregoriou]

We have a daughter at MCLA in North Adams. Our first detour was Rt. 5/10 to Rt.116 on to Rt.8. Now we follow the detour of Rt. 112 S (average speed limit 45-50 mph)then on Rt.116 to Adams then on to 8. It's not a bad drive. Be careful at night,we came across 12 deer in the road the first night driving back on 116 to North Central Ma.
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Jim, thanks for the detour suggestion, and for the good advice about watching for deer crossings.

[Dan]

If I'm going from Williamstown to Amherst via the Mohawk trail, can I go that way through the hairpin turn and route 2 like I normally do? Or is it still closed?
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Route 2 remains closed in the Florida-Charlemont area until mid-December. A Detour Route with local signage is listed below.

From North Adams:

Route 8, Adams, to Route 116 through Adams, Savoy, Plainfield, and Ashfield,

to Route 112 through Ashfield and Buckland,

to Route 2, East Charlemont.

[Drew]

Did not know about the closure and ended up driving through Savoy in the evening (silly GPS had unpaved roads option enabled). Not recommended, especially in a compact car. While most unpaved roads were passable, we ended up having to turn back and find another detour (through Center Rd, I believe) because one road was washed out. Lesson learned: unless in a 4-wheel-drive car with clearance, groan & moan but do take the detour through 8 to 116.
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Thanks for sharing your experience, Drew. Crews working hard to get Route 2 reopened.

[Joann Donnelly]

I'm trying to get to Williamstown from Greenfield, MA. Can you tell me explicitly what is the detour route in the Savoy area of Ma and when does it re-join Route 2 ( if it does ?) before I get to Williamstown area?
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We have posted a Google map on the blog showing the detour that rejoins Route 2 at North Adams.

http://transportation.blog.state.ma.us/blog/2011/10/route-2-repairs-update-detour-map.html

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=212452422605631329000.0004abce98db73ba855c4&msa=0

[Chris]

I was wondering if I will be able to take Route 8A to 116 from North Adams to Route 2 in Charlemont?
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Yes. However there is still ongoing construction on Route 8A, which may cause delays.

[Dave]

Need to know if I can use the northern pass around route 2 closure, via Zoar rd. in Charlemont to get around the closed section. Can I get to Eastern Summit without going around that southern detour?
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Thanks. For safety reasons, MassDOT encourages all "through" travelers in the area to use the posted detour routes.

[J Mac]

Hello. I traveled Route 2 today from North Adams towards the east. While the fact that the road was closed (on the big digital display board), I assumed there would be a marked detour further up the road. This was not the case. After driving up the hairpin, we eventually reached the closure. There was no signage other than "road closed." There was a man outside near the closing who told us to go back down to N. Adams and follow the detour. However, upon returning to North Adams (and watching backwards for any detour signs), I noticed only one Rt 2 East detour near the turnout for the natural bridge - which was pointed in the wrong direction. It is only visible if you have attempted to make the crossing and turned around. At the intersection in town (where the McDonald's is), we guessed which way to go, as there was no detour sign here either. Luckily, we guessed right, as we found another sign about a mile or so up the road. Please please please mark these routes better. On the way up and down 2 we noticed numerous tourist plated cars headed into areas that could not be traversed. The later parts of the detour are clear, but it is hard for people not familiar with the locality to find.
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Thank you for your comments, which have been sent to the district Highway office in that area.

[Oksana Maselko]

Hello,
Iam traveling from Troy NY to Winchendon ma, are the roads through the entire stretch open? I know there is a issue with
No.Adams and east, If I take 91 from Brattleboro and hook up
to Rt 2 at Greenfield will the roads be open through Winchendon? Thank you
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Yes, Route 2 east of I-91 is open.

[E J]

Is Route 8A between Charlemont and Route 116 in Hawley still closed?
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Yes, as of Monday morning, that section of Route 8a remains closed.

[Scott Beverly]

I am the last house in Drury, MA, and although I don't mind being friendly, me and my family are getting tired of telling tourist about the road closure, I can only hope that the state could put better road signage up before people drive all the up here.
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Thanks, detour signage is posted and being modified as needed. Your comments are being forwarded to our district offices.