GREENFIELD — Heading into the middle of the second week of major road construction in Greenfield, officials feel drivers have a better handle on what is expected of them over the next several months.
Drivers just need to get used to the fact that conditions will change frequently throughout the project along State Road 9, and having alternate routes really is the best thing drivers can do to avoid delays and frustration, public safety leaders say.
As an example, the repairs slated to happen earlier this week at the intersection of New Road and State Road 9 were postponed due to weather and instead were scheduled to happen today (Wednesday, March 17).
“The biggest thing we can really preach is patience and safety,” Greenfield Police Department Capt. Chuck McMichael said.
Work began last week on the ambitious State Road 9 project, which will involve repairs and other changes on Greenfield’s major north-south thoroughfare all the way through town. Work started at Davis Road on the south side, and State Road 9 between there and Main Street will be mostly closed until May while major repairs are undertaken. From there, the work will slowly move north, all the way to Interstate 70.
McMichael said fewer drivers are daring to drive around the barricades on the south side as more become accustomed to the closure and are finding other ways to navigate the area. During one two-day stretch last week, more than 100 people were stopped for driving around barriers and into the construction zone. McMichael said GPD will continue to stop violators.
“Construction areas are dangerous,” McMichael said. “The one on South State Street right now is a prime example.”
On the south side, many large holes and trenches are being dug under the roadway to replace utility lines. Those hazards change daily, and an area that looks safe today may be torn up tomorrow, officials point out.
That’s not the only work going on. On North State Street at New Road, traffic is being redirected while crews are repairing the road base before it can be paved later this summer. The base under the pavement there is weak and falling apart. The 500-foot-long section happens to run right in the middle of the intersection, one of the city’s busiest.
“If they don’t fix it now, the new pavement will continue to fall apart and be a problem,” McMichael said.
While construction there is a major inconvenience for sure, it hopefully will last only one day for now, McMichael noted. (GPD is posting on its Facebook page late-breaking updates on the work, whose schedule is subject to changes.)
All the construction at once is making officials concerned about the extra use of alleys and side streets on the south side. Drivers who use those routes are reminded to watch out for children who might ride their bikes or chase balls in the street without looking because they’re not accustomed to seeing traffic
“Kids don’t understand roads are closed and cars will be coming through there,” McMichael said.
Officials are asking for patience from people who have to drive through the area.
“It’s short and only takes an extra couple of minutes,” McMichael said.
