Sidewalks Considered for Orchard Road Project in Dalton

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story

DALTON, Mass.—The town is considering including sidewalks in the reconstruction of Orchard Road.

Selectmen John Boyle announced during the Select Board meeting on Monday that the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)  may have grant funding available to fund sidewalks on Orchard Road. 

Boyle, the town's representative on the MPO, said the town can apply for Complete Streets funding through the MPO. 

To be considered, the town has to submit an application before April 1. If the town is approved the money will be available in the summer. 

DPW Superintendent Bud Hall and Town Manager Tom Hutcheson will be working on applying for the grant. 

In addition to this grant funding, the town can also use blacktop to create the sidewalks instead of concrete to keep the costs down, Boyle said. 

The town has also discussed sidewalk repairs with residents before the last town meeting where it was approved to add $10,000 to the sidewalk repair budget.

The road is used by some students who attend Wahconah Regional High School. The Select Board said during a September meeting that the town should first focus its repairs on sidewalks near the schools to improve student safety in high-traffic areas. More information on sidewalks can be found here. 

"I didn't even realize it myself but there are six feeder streets that go into Orchard Road. And they serve all the students in that northeast section of town that walk to [Nessacus Regional Middle School] and [Wahconah Regional High School]," Boyle said.

"I think it's really important and from a handicap point of view, you know we have a lot of interest there from various residents."

Despite interest from residents and officials, installing sidewalks on Orchard Road was originally deemed not feasible, this grant would change that.

The project was delayed for many years due to lack of funding. Over the years, the town applied for grants but was not approved. A few years ago, the town allocated funds for the project, which was utilized to complete the project's engineering and design. They are finalizing the designs now. 

The town was approved for a state MassWorks grant of $1 million so it can address the street's drainage issues. Addressing the street's drainage issues will utilize all of the funding received from this grant. 

The drainage project will be from Pease Avenue to the bridge. The blacktop on the other side of the road, near Wahconah Country Club, and from the Massachusetts Public Works building to Route 9 will also be replaced. 

During the meeting on Monday, the Select Board voted to add a letter to Hall's personnel file, praising him for his efforts in securing a grant.

 

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Dalton Residents Eliminate Bittersweet at the Dalton CRA

DALTON, Mass. — Those passing by the house at Mill + Main, formally known as the Kittredge House, in Dalton may have noticed the rim of woods surrounding the property have undergone a facelift. 
 
Two concerned Dalton residents, Tom Irwin and Robert Collins set out to make a change. Through over 40 hours of effort, they cleared 5 large trailers of bittersweet and grapevine vines and roots, fallen trees and branches and cut down many small trees damaged by the vines.
 
"The Oriental Bittersweet was really taking over the area in front of our Mill + Main building," said Eric Payson, director of facilities for the CRA. "While it started as a barrier, mixing in with other planted vegetation for our events help on the lawn, it quickly got out of hand and started strangling some nice hardwoods."
 
Bittersweet, which birds spread unknowingly, strangles trees, and also grows over and smothers ground level bushes and plants. According to forester and environmental and landscaping consultant Robert Collins, oriental bittersweet has grown to such a problem that the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Wildlife Management has adopted a policy of applying herbicide to bittersweet growing in their wildlife management areas.
 
Collins and Irwin also chipped a large pile of cut trees and brush as well as discarded branches. 
 
"We are very grateful to be in a community where volunteers, such as Tom and Robert, are willing to roll up their sleeves and help out," said CRA Executive Director Alison Peters.
 
Many areas in Dalton, including backyards, need the same attention to avoid this invasive plant killing trees. Irwin and Colins urge residents to look carefully at their trees for a vine wrapped often in a corkscrew fashion around branches or a mat of vines growing over a bush that has clusters of orange and red berries in the Fall. To remove them pull the roots as well.
 
View Full Story

More Dalton Stories