South County Road Maintenance

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LEE, Mass. — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing crews will be conducting daytime and overnight hour guardrail repair, drainage work, bridge repair, and tree trimming operations at various locations and times on I-90 eastbound and westbound during the week of Monday, May 20.

Lane closures will be in place during the construction operations and traffic will be able to travel through the work zones.  The schedule for the work and lane closures will be as follows: 

Otis/Blandford 

  • Guardrail and drainage work will be conducted on I-90 westbound between mile marker 22.0 to 26.6 from Monday, May 20, through Thursday, May 23, from 7:00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. the next morning. The work is expected to conclude by 5:00 a.m. on Friday, May 24.

Otis

  • Bridge repair operations will be conducted nightly on I-90 eastbound and westbound at mile marker 22.5, from Monday, May 20, through Thursday, May 23, from 7:00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. the next morning. The work is expected to conclude by 5:00 a.m. on Friday, May 24.

Blandford

  • Bridge repair operations will be conducted nightly on I-90 eastbound and westbound at mile marker 26.4 from Monday, May 20, through Thursday, May 23, from 7:00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. the next morning. The work is expected to conclude by 5:00 a.m. on Friday, May 24.

Russell

  • Tree trimming work will be conducted daily on I-90 westbound between mile marker 30.0 to mile marker 31.0, from Monday, May 20, through Thursday, May 23, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day. 

Stockbridge/West Stockbridge

  • Guardrail and bridge repair work will be conducted nightly on I-90 eastbound and westbound from mile marker 3.0 to 6.0, from Monday, May 20, through Thursday, May 23, from 7:00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. the next morning. The work is expected to conclude by 5:00 a.m. on Friday, May 24.

Stockbridge

  • Bridge repair operations will be conducted daily on I-90 eastbound and westbound at mile marker 7.5, from Monday, May 20, through Thursday, May 23, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day.

West Stockbridge

  • Bridge repair operations will be conducted daily on I-90 eastbound and westbound at mile marker 0.6, from Monday, May 20, through Thursday, May 23, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day.

Lee

  • Drainage work will be conducted nightly on I-90 eastbound and westbound from mile marker 8.0 to 14.0, on Monday, May 20, through Thursday, May 23, from 7:00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. the next morning. The work is expected to conclude by 5:00 a.m. on Friday, May 24.

Appropriate signage, law enforcement details, and messaging will be in place to guide drivers through the work area. 

Drivers traveling through the affected areas should expect delays, reduce speed, and use caution.  

All scheduled work is weather dependent and subject to change without notice. 

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

Butternut Fire 40 Percent Contained

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Butternut Fire is 40 percent contained and the command post has been moved to Butternut Ski Area.

Tuesday brought welcome rain and first responders operated with a smaller crew focused on observing. One week into the wildfire, officials maintain that conditions are improving and the public should not be alarmed.

"After additional data gathered yesterday and compiled overnight, we can say with confidence that the fire is 40 percent contained," the Great Barrington Fire Department wrote on Tuesday morning.

"We expect that this containment number will grow rapidly as more verification data is obtained. Do NOT get hung up on the numbers — the fire is controlled and we have not lost any ground — this is simply a number that is used for official reporting. Let us say that again — the fire is controlled."

The department is collecting data and getting more accurate measurements and GPS locations of the burned area, expecting that the acreage involved will grow.

"Let us be clear – the fire did not grow; the data became more accurate," GBFD clarified.

"The perimeter around the fire is expected to be as much as 10 miles. To put the acreage involved in perspective, if the marking on the perimeter moves 1 foot, you have added 1.2 acres. 100 feet (less than 1/3 of a football field) would add 121 acres."

They reiterated that the area is dangerous and the public should stay clear. The smell of smoke will continue and is not a cause for alarm but if air quality deteriorates, the Department of Public Health will provide updated guidance.

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