MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey announced today the six-mile section of Route 2 closed following Tropical Storm Irene has reopened to traffic.
The portion of Route 2 connecting North Adams, Florida, Savoy, and Charlemont in northern Berkshire and Franklin counties was closed following the significant damage caused by Irene in late August.
“With the hard work of our District One staff and our contractors, we were able to design, engineer, survey, and begin construction in record time,” said Secretary Davey. “Recognizing this is an important connection in this area for residents and for tourism, Governor Patrick made this a priority and today I am happy to say we delivered.”
Using an expedited bidding process and unprecedent turnaround time, MassDOT was able to advertise contracts and begin the work in just over one month after the storm hit.
“A job of this magnitude would have ordinarily taken at least one entire construction season, if not more, to complete. But with a critical artery like Route 2, we were innovative in our bidding process and able to move aggressively on design and construction,” said Highway Administrator Frank DePaola.
Contractors Northern Construction, ET&L Corporation, JH Maxymillian, and R. Bates & Sons worked around the clock to rebuild major slopes, reconstruct large swaths of the road that were lost, upgrade drainage, build new retaining walls, and reinforce slopes that protect the bridge connecting Savoy and Florida.
Berkshire County area roads and bridges suffered $35 million in damage, with $23 million for the cost of reconstructing the 6 miles of Route 2.
In early September, the Obama Administration issued a major disaster declaration making Massachusetts eligible for federal disaster aid to assist with the cost of work on Route 2. Upcoming completion work along Route 2 will rebuild retaining walls, with no traffic impacts.
Dear MASSDOT crews,
Great Job reopening Route 2 as soon as you did! I drove across just before Xmas and was amazed at the visible signs of damage, even though I had read the list of washed out and landslide sites along the Deerfield River. Keep up the good work and be safe!
Sandy Webber, Williamstown
Posted by: Sandra Webber | January 09, 2012 at 08:43 AM
Nice. That was an insane amount of damage to fix and to get it done so far ahead of the usual is refreshing. Good work!
Posted by: Chris James | December 29, 2011 at 03:06 PM
Great job. Our family has been going to the Mohawk Trail for many many years. We love it there.
Thank you for rebuilding so quickly. I look forward to traveling that road once again with such fond memories.
To all who worked on the road, thank you.
Posted by: Linda Plain | December 17, 2011 at 05:31 PM