NORTHAMPTON — State transportation officials are moving ahead with plans to construct a shared-use path for bikers and walkers along a dangerous 1.2-mile stretch of Route 5 between Northampton and Easthampton.
The $6 million project, construction of which is scheduled to begin in 2026 and take two years to complete, is being greeted with enthusiasm by bikers and others who use that part of Route 5 to get to and from Northampton, Holyoke and Easthampton.
Plans call for the path to run between Easthampton’s Manhan Rail Trailhead near East Street and connect to proposed bike lanes to be constructed at Interstate 91’s Exit 23 in Northampton, where a bridge replacement project is currently underway.
“This is an area where pedestrian and bike access has been just totally unworkable and dangerous,” said Northampton resident Nicholas Horton, speaking at a public hearing hosted by the state Department of Transportation on Wednesday. “This has really important implications for the folks who live on Island Road, for those who are making their way down towards Holyoke, and for those connected to the Manhan Rail Trail.”
State officials said the trail will be constructed along the west side of Route 5, closest to the Oxbow and opposite the B&M Railroad tracks. It would run past Island Road, which provides access to the Oxbow Marina and a neighborhood, as well as a warehouse for Packaging Corporation of America.
“The project is intended to address the need to provide a direct connection for alternative and healthy modes of travel,” MassDOT Project Manager Muazzez Reardon said at Wednesday’s virtual public hearing, which was being held at the 25% design stage.
Right now, Reardon said that this section of Route 5 “lacks adequate shoulder width for bicycles and there are no sidewalks for pedestrians,” creating an accessibility barrier for pedestrians with disabilities and safety issues for those traveling along the corridor.
As such, she said project goals include improving accessibility and safety, and encouraging more use by bicyclists and pedestrians.
In addition to construction of the shared-use path, MassDOT is proposing other improvements, including: an expanded parking lot at the Manhan Rail Trailhead, a potential Pioneer Valley Transit Authority bus stop at the trailhead, modifications to the existing Route 5 bridge, and signalized pedestrian and bicycle crossings near the I-91 ramp interchange.
“At the Manhan River Bridge, there’s an existing sidewalk on the west side,” said Keith Lincoln, project manager at Chappell Engineering, the design consultant for the project. “That helps facilitate the widening of that sidewalk and construction of the shared-use path.”
The project is being designed to have a limited impact to the existing Route 5.
“The intent is to maintain as much of the existing roadway as possible… and as such, we’re doing very minimal work on the roadway,” Lincoln said, adding that there are certain areas where the guardrail will need to be modified, particularly at the bridge. “In general, we’re not proposing to relocate the guardrail.”
Additional safety measures include a minimum of 5 feet of buffer space between the road and the path. And, depending on location within the path, a curb, guardrail, or railing will separate the path from the roadway.
As for a timeline, Reardon said environmental permits and 75% design submission will be completed by winter 2024, final design submission in fall 2025, and construction is anticipated to begin in 2026 and last two years.
Funding for the project will come from federal aid (80%) and state funds (20%). That estimated price tag does not cover any right of way acquisition costs.
The project’s current design plan suggests that temporary and permanent easements may be needed, but no details have been determined. MassDOT said Wednesday it would notify affected property owners 10 months to a year before the project happens to discuss easement specifics and compensation , according to Angela Steinman, a right of way agent for the agency.
Reardon said that because the project involves work within regulated wetland boundaries, coordination with the state Department of Environmental Protection and the Easthampton and Northampton conservation commissions will be required.
Other work is adjacent to the Sylvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge as well as the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and will involve coordination with those groups.
Some attendees at the hearing voiced environmental concerns with the project.
“I hope that no additional lights will be installed, and I’m thinking especially about the fact that the path runs along sensitive environmental areas,” said Northampton resident James Lowenthal, who is in favor of the project. “All the wildlife in that refuge need it to be dark at night, and we humans do as well. … I think safety can be served by good design without more lights.”
Kathryn Bass, a resident of Island Road suggested more lighting to help avoid bike collisions with crossing wildlife.
Members of the public at the hearing — particularly bikers and Island Road residents — were strongly supportive of the proposed shared-use path.
“We need to keep promoting separated trails like this so more and more families and young people and… less confident bike riders can get out on the trails,” said George Kohout of Northampton.
Bass said she feels like she has “been trapped for 20 years,” while another resident, Cat Sargent said, “My only regret is that it didn’t happen when my son was little.”
Northampton City Councilor Jim Nash said, “I am stupidly excited that this project is moving forward. … To be able to go down Route 5 safely, it just opens up a lot of possibilities.”
Members of the public who would like to submit comments can email MassDOTProjectManagement@dot.state.ma.us and include the project number, 610657. Comments submitted before Wednesday, Oct. 25 will be recorded and considered by MassDOT as part of the public hearing.
Maddie Fabian can be reached at mfabian@gazettenet.com.