Mayor Alcombright was looking over the lighting situation on Main Street on Wednesday. Top photo, work will continue underneath the Hadley Overpass.
The city has a few more weeks of work as a number of state projects near completion — at least for this fall.
Mayor Richard Alcombright said he'd met Monday for an update with state workers overseeing the four projects now under way in the city.
Concrete pours on the Hadley Overpass decking will end this week, he told the City Council on Tuesday, but "they will be continuing with the extensive structural work being done under the bridge right through the winter, if the weather cooperates."
That could mean traffic delays at times but work on the topside probably will not resume until spring.
Work on the West Main Street bridge over the rail tracks should be completed before Thanksgiving, he said. The sidewalk has been cemented and concrete is being poured this week or next for the deck. The railing has been resecured but hasn't been replaced or painted because it wasn't in the budget. Alcombright said city crews will repaint the rusty railing in the spring.
The new massive light poles on Main Street seem inspired by the city's landmark steeples.
The bridge near West Package Store on State Road will have its deck replaced beginning next week.
"There should be minimal interruption; yes, there will be some slow traffic but that should be completed this construction season," he said. Those most affected will be residents of New Street, which may have to be closed at times; residents will have to loop around to Taft Street to exit onto State Road.
Work on the downtown streetscape project is coming to a close for the season. Corners that have not yet been paved with concrete are being blacktopped for the winter and lightposts are being installed.
"We're hopeful the intersection signaling will be done before the end of the year," said Alcombright.
The blacktopped corners, paving on River and Main streets, sidewalks and lighting on Eagle Street and tree planting around the downtown will be completed in the spring. The work is contractually required to be completed by July 1.
That's not the end of the road work. Alcombright said the state will be beginning work on the decking of another State Road bridge in the year or so. "We're hoping to do the Sacco Bridge next summer because that's very bumpy ride."
A giant crane that's been hovering over North Adams was being used on Thursday to lift trusses for the decking on the north side of the Hadley Overpass.
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:: Preliminary Election: Deadline to register is Wednesday, Sept. 7. (Office open from 8 to 8.)
:: General Election: Deadline to register is Tuesday, Oct. 18
Registration can be completed at the city clerk's office at City Hall.
Absentee ballots are now available at the city clerk's office for the Sept. 27 preliminary city election. Voters may come in between the hours of 8 and 4:30 weekdays. Written reguests for mailed ballots can be sent to City Clerk's Office, 10 Main St., North Adams, MA 01247. Deadline for absentee ballots is Monday, Sept. 26, at noon.
The preliminary election will be held Tuesday, Sept. 27, to narrow the field of three mayoral candidates to two. The general election to select nine city councilors and a mayor will be held Tuesday, Nov. 8.
