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A half-mile extension of the rail trail to Merrill Road should be completed this fall.

Pittsfield's 2nd Rail Trail Extension Coming Soon

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The second extension of the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail southward through the city is on schedule for completion in the fall.

This will connect the leg that comes out on Crane Avenue to Merrill Road, paving the way for further extensions. A paved parking lot and path can be seen from the road with construction elements on the site.

"The construction of the Pittsfield Rail Trail project began in October of 2023 and is expected to be completed on time in the fall," a representative from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation confirmed.

The 0.4-mile extension will go underneath the Dalton Avenue bridge, travel behind the Shops at Unkamet Brook (which include Dick's Sporting Goods, Raymour & Flanigan, and Panera Bread,) and come out next to O'Connell Oil Associates.

Coming in at about $2.35 million, MassDOT says the project is on budget. Eighty percent of the construction cost is paid by the Federal Highway Administration and 20 percent is funded by the state.

To accommodate the extension, a 5,900-square-foot paved parking area with 11 spaces will be built adjacent to the trail at Merrill Road.

Project activities include a rest area with bench seating, bicycle racks, and trail information; a Pedestrian Activated Hybrid Beacon (HAWK) signal at Merrill Road; repair of an existing stormwater drainage culvert underneath the existing rail embankment at one location; and new grass-lined infiltration swales parallel to the trail totaling a cumulative 1,150 linear feet.



During construction, crews encountered some contaminated soil but the project remained on schedule. One of eight soil sample conducted was found to have polychlorinated biphenyls and the contaminated soil was disposed of properly. Initially estimated at $1.65 million, the discovery of the contamination added $700,000 to the trail's price tag.

The next proposed phase of the rail trail is an approximately 1.5-mile extension along Merrill Road/Route 9 and it is expected to be advertised for construction in December 2027.

MassDOT said plans for further extensions have not been finalized.

In 2022, the city celebrated a finished 1.5-mile leg of the trial along the abandoned Housatonic railroad line that runs from the Connector Road to Crane Avenue. The 10-foot paved multi-use path is loved by walkers, bikers, and more.

The rail trail now runs more than 14 miles.

The first section opened in 2001 from Route 8 in Cheshire to Hoosac Street in Adams and was extended to Lime Street in 2016. The trail will eventually link up to a recently completed 2.4-mile path in Williamstown.


Tags: Ashuwillticook Rail Trail,   bike path,   

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Dalton Division Road Project in Pre-25 Percent Design Stage

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The town's engineers say there is still time to work through the Dalton Division Road project’s design and permitting process. 
 
In December, the Select Board voted to advocate for Concept A, which would have sidewalks on both sides, a 5-foot bike lane in the road on both sides with a buffer, and a 2-foot painted buffer between the vehicle lane and in the bike lane. They also recommended the two-way stop control option. 
 
Since that decision, there have been sentiments to revisit this decision to reduce the cost and improve safety at the intersection off Williams Street, Washington Mountain Road, and Mountain Road. 
 
The original vote would have been the most expensive and "certainly not" the engineer or the state's "preferred design," Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson said during a meeting in November. 
 
During last week's Select Board meeting, Fuss & O'Neil project manager and senior traffic engineer Steve Savaria represented the options, explained potential obstacles, and demonstrated the next steps. Present board members have yet to vote on their final choice. 
 
The project is still in the pre-25 percent design stage and is currently on the fiscal year 2029 Transportation Improvement Program list, so there is "plenty of time" to work out the details. 
 
Since the original vote, some board members have shifted their opinion toward advocating for the most feasible and timely option with a "path of least resistance to get this project done." 
 
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