Hurricane-Damaged Route 2 Reopens to Traffic

CHARLEMONT, Mass. — Route 2 reopened to traffic on Thursday morning to the great relief of residents and travelers of the historic Mohawk Trail.

The opening comes nearly 3 1/2 months since Hurricane Irene caused massive damage affecting roadways, bridges, riverbanks and slopes that made the major east-west connector impassable.

On Sept. 30, Transportation Secretary Richard A. Davey stood near a section of collapsed road and pledged the highway would open by Dec. 15 - as ordered by Gov. Deval Patrick. Department of Transportation crews and contractors have been working 24/7 for nearly three months to make it happen.

"This is what government does best, with the private sector, with the contractors, with the men and women who worked their tails off the last 90 days to get this road open ... I am proud of you," said Davey on Thursday morning as trucks roared by the newly reconstructed parking area near Mohawk Trail State Forest. But he also confided that "it's amazing when you get a deadline what you can do with a deadline ... We told [the governor] we would get it done not only for the administration but for the people that use Route 2 every day."

Local officials hadn't quite believed that the work could be done that fast. "People were saying it was going to be two years maybe for Route 2. It was just unbelievable the devastation, said state Rep. Paul Mark, D-Peru.

"It's almost surreal to see that this work has been accomplished in such a short period of time," said North Adams Mayor Richard Alcombright, who thanked District 1 Highway Director Peter Niles and his crew. "All you guys out there with the yellow coats and the white hats, contractors that have worked so hard here, you've done a fabulous job."

The Berkshires suffered some $35 million in damages because of Irene; the cost of reconstructing six miles of Route 2 cost $23 million. The road's closure has had a major affect on transportation, businesses, residents and the tourist industry, especially during fall foliage season.

It also cut off parts of the small towns along the highway, forcing long detours for residents and travelers.

"The residents are very excited and happy to have it back open," said Florida Town Administrator Christine Dobbert. Motorists had been detouring along winding Whitcomb Hill Road, raising maintenance costs, and some families found their children cut off from school in Charlemont. "We have a couple of businesses that will definitely be happy to see if sales will come back up again, hopefully."

Hawley Selectman Richard G. Desmarais praised MassDOT for making swift repairs in his small town.

"In circumstances like this, you have to throw all caution to the wind and do the job," said the Navy veteran, who said he supplied workers with coffee in appreciation. "They worked their butts off."

MassDOT officials could not think of another project that could compare in mobilization, manpower and completion to the Route 2 project, which would normally have taken an entire construction season.

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