GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The state Department of Transportation (DOT) is beginning preliminary work on a new traffic roundabout at the intersection of Main Street and Route 23, in front of the Great Barrington Police Department.

 

The $2 million project is expected to span two construction seasons  and to improve safety, traffic flow and aesthetics at the intersection. The project includes new street lighting, improved sidewalks and safer crosswalks, buried utilities and landscaping of a new roundabout island.

 

"This state project is planned and funded by DOT and is not consuming financial resources reserved for other town infrastructure projects, as some are suggesting in calls and emails to Town Hall and in social media," said Town Manager Mark Pruhenski. "Our local bridges are in various stages of design and permitting at this time and remain a high priority for the Selectboard."

 

Traffic will continue to move through the area during construction with police details on site as needed.

 

Meanwhile, repairs and improvements to the so-called "brown bridge" at the north end of Main Street are on track for an early completion in June, with a new paint job in the color "International Orange." The Great Barrington bridge will share its color with the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

 

And on April 12, the Selectboard will hear an engineering update on the status of the Division Street Bridge, which is closed due to safety issues. A temporary replacement bridge is expected to be built within a year, and more precise details will be available at the upcoming meeting.