AMHERST — A large sign recently installed on Triangle Street is reminding travelers that businesses on the street remain open, even with the northwest end of the road closed where a roundabout is being built.
The sign, made and put in place by the Department of Public Works, is among the measures aimed at helping a half dozen businesses on the street cope with the ongoing construction.
DPW Superintendent Guilford Mooring said the sign was created after he reached out to the business owners and asked what could be done for their situation.
The businesses affected include Amherst Market, Primo Too pizzeria, Northampton Cooperative Bank, TD Bank, National Heating and Bresnahan Insurance Agency.
When the project was scheduled to begin after the University of Massachusetts commencement in May, town officials, working with contractor Warner Brothers LLC, had planned to keep the intersection with East Pleasant Street at least partially open throughout the project, with some detours in place.
But after starting two months late, and still needing to complete work before the fall semester begins, Warner Brothers asked to close both Triangle and East Pleasant streets around the clock and install Jersey barriers around the construction zone to keep vehicles out.
Town Manager Paul Bockelman told the Select Board this week that the more aggressive schedule than anticipated has been problematic.
“Some businesses at that end of town are suffering because of this,” Bockelman said.
But with “dramatic progress” taking place in the roadwork, Bockelman said the revised schedule should prove worthwhile.
In fact, the DPW anticipates reducing the extent of the road closures by Monday, with a base course of asphalt to be put down on Saturday. That will lead to the intersection partially reopening next week, but with some detours remaining in place. On Monday, Warner Brothers will begin installing granite curbing and adjusting structures
Amherst Business Improvement District Executive Director Sarah la Cour said she appreciates the town’s attentiveness to the needs of businesses, observing that the changes to the project caused a lot of information provided to businesspeople in the spring to become out of date.
Meantime, Geeleher Construction will complete trench patching on Alyssum Drive Monday and Tuesday, meaning the road will be closed. Additional crews will resume work on Wildflower Drive, between Alyssum Drive and Indian Pipe Lane, starting Monday. Wildflower will be closed to through traffic from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
