GB Begins Work on Late Summer Construction Projects

The town is embarking on a $1.6 million plan to repair streets and sidewalks throughout downtown. The Taconic parking lot, by the Triplex movie theater, will be repaved and improved as part of this work.

Construction work gets under way this week, beginning Aug. 23.

Plans include repaving Bridge and Bentley Streets, repairing sidewalks on the east end of Bridge Street, installing pollinator gardens in Main Street planters and installing two electric car charging stations in the Taconic lot. A crumbling masonry retaining wall below the Taconic Avenue railroad bridge is also being fixed.

The various projects will impact traffic downtown but roads will remain open, said Sean VanDeusen, town public works superintendent.

"We know everyone has construction fatigue but we hope everyone can hang in there -- these are major and long overdue improvements," he said. "We will do all we can to minimize disruption but there will be traffic slowdowns."

The state is also working on a roundabout construction project south of town at Routes 7 and 23, near the town Great Barrington Police Department.

VanDeusen said there's more to come this fall: additional street improvents will be made in the areas of Elm Court and Rossetter Street, Fairview Terrace, Magnolia Street and Maplewood Avenue.

In addition, gravel will be laid on the rail trail walking path south of Main Street in Housatonic, to comply with ADA accessibility requirements. Vandeusen said the gravel will soon become packed down and that grass will grow in over the hardened surface. In another recreational improvement, the Great Barrington Riverwalk will be extended south to Olympic Meadows.

The Mason Library Lawn is also being re-sodded.

All work will be complete before the end of November.

Left: The crumbing retaining wall under the Taconic Avenue railroad bridge is slated for repairs.