Springfield Department of Public Works

"THE ROUNDABOUT IS IN!!!"

Earlier this week, the roundabout at the Tapley St. and St. James Ave. intersection became operational. There is still a lot of construction that needs to happen over the next few months but traffic is flowing.

Some of the remaining work:

Approach islands on Tapley St
Center "circles"
Concrete truck pad
Signage
Removal of Traffic Lights
Landscaping
Lighting
Line Striping
etc.

***ATTENTION RESIDENTS***

FREE ELECTRONICS RECYCLING EVENT

On Saturday, August 3, 2024, from 8 am - 11 am, Keep Springfield Beautiful has partnered with the City of Springfield and the Department of Public Works to offer a free electronics recycling event to be located at the DPW Facility at 70 Tapley Street in Springfield.

Please see the attached flyer!

A few rules to follow:

No appointment necessary!
Must be a Springfield Resident (must show ID)
No large Appliances (freezers, refrigerators, etc.)
No large electric exercise equipment
No regular bulk items
No hazardous materials

DPW reserves the right to refuse acceptance of any item

See you on Saturday!

***ATTENTION RESIDENTS***

Due to the predicted temperatures for tomorrow, Wednesday, July 17, 2024, we will begin trash / recycling / yard waste collection at 6:00 am. Residents must have their material at the curb no later than 6:00 am. If material is not placed at the curb by 6:00 am, the DPW will not be returning to collect due to the dangerous heat index conditions.

***ATTENTION RESIDENTS***

Due to a series of issues within the Department of Public Works, collection of Trash, Recycling and Yard Waste may be delayed on Thursday, July 11, 2024 and Friday, July 12, 2024.

Residents should leave your barrels out and they will be eventually collected. If necessary, we will be continuing collection into Saturday, most likely for yard waste.

Residents should only contact 311 if your Trash or Recycling have not been collected by noon on the day after your usual collection date.

We appreciate your patience and expect to be back to normal collection service next week!

Thank you!

****ATTENTION RESIDENTS****

MODIFIED TRASH, RECYCLING and YARD WASYE COLLECTION SCHEDULE

Due to the 4th of July Holiday, trash, recycling, and Yard Waste collection scheduled for Thursday will be collected on Saturday, July 6, 2024.

Please have your barrels out by 6am on Saturday

Thank you for your cooperation!

Design Public Hearing

Please see the link for more information:
https://www.springfield-ma.gov/dpw/

***ATTENTION REIDENTS***

The City of Springfield now has a Textile Donation Bin located at Bondi's Island Landfill. The bin will be accessible for drop off M0nday thru Friday from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm.

For additional private textile donation location please see previous threads on this page.

Thank you!

***TRAFFIC ALERT***

Please be aware that due to the Memorial Day Parade in Ludlow, the Route 21 / Putts Bridge will be closed from roughly 9:30 am to 12:30 pm on Monday, May 27, 2024.

Please seek an alternate route during that time.

****TRAFFIC ALERT****

Residents should be aware that beginning Friday morning, May 17, 2024, at 9:00 am +/-. Main Street will be closed to allow for the set up of the Spitit of Springfield's World's Largest Pancake Breakfast. The closure will be in place through the day on Saturday. Please plan appropriately.

For more information on the event it can be found here:

World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast The World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast is a great way to meet neighbors and friends as the community sits down at Springfield’s breakfast table in celebration of the city’s May 14, 1636 founding. The menu includes hot, hearty pancakes, bacon, coffee, juice and milk, and lots of local talent.

On Sunday, June 9, 2024, the City of Springfield will be hosting our second Ironman event. The event last year was a great success and we expect this year to be bigger and better.

Over the next few weeks we will be posting information about the event, especially with regards to road closures and traffic detours that will occur downtown, and other locations including Longhill Street, Dickenson Street and throughout Forest Park.

To learn more about the event visit the event webpage at

IRONMAN 70.3 Western Massachusetts | Anything Is Possible The State of Firsts

***ATTENTION RESIDENTS****

Looking to get rid of textiles???? See the attached for ways to donate the material in the Springfield Area.!!

RODAWAY WORK UPDATE

1. Paving of Hall of Fame Way west Columbus Ave.) has been completed. We expect line painting to be completed during the week of May 13, 2024---all weather dependent.

2. Paving of Island Pond Road is complete, however, some of the side street tie-in location still need to be paved. We also expect line painting to be completed during the week of May 13, 2024---all weather dependent.

3. We expect milling of Breckwood Boulevard to begin during the week of May 13, 2024. We expect utility work to take 4-5 weeks +/----so we would expect final paving to occur later in June.

4. The State Street Library Crosswalk and Library Parking Lot is expected to begin the week after the 4th of July as it is part of the FY25 construction work.

5. The City does not have a schedule for the FY2025 paving work yet as the bids were just open late last week. Once the contractor is on board, we will be able to share a schedule.

***ATTENTION RESIDENTS****

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETINGS

As has been noticed previously, the City of Springfield Department of Public Works has received a $15 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration to address safety issues throughout the City. The locations to be addressed include 10 corridor and 15 intersection locations in the City.

Per the attached notice, the DPW will be holding 2 public meeting to discuss concept level proposed improvements for the intersection locations on May 7, 2024 at the Raymond A Jordan Senior Center and on May 14, 2024 at the South End Community Center.

We expect to hold similar public meeting to discuss the proposed corridor improvements in the near future as well.

***ATTENTION RESDIENTS***

With Spring upon us, a lot is happening in our City. A few items for your information:

1. Don’t Trash Your Textiles! Spring cleaning is upon us, which means a lot of closet clean outs! Check out our Google Map of all the locations in Springfield that you can donate your unwanted clothing and textiles https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1ZBy6A4QDKTL9RtuIVVaMe6Grf00&ll=42.114524582986945%2C-72.55346000000002&z=13

2. St. James Avenue and Tapley Street - As we enter Phase 3 of the construction, Tapley Street will be closed this week (see post below on original post). Paving of the area is anticipated to be next Monday where the road will be back open. Following that work, actual construction of the roundabout by MassDOT will begin.

3. FY2024 Paving - We anticipate the final paving of West Columbus Avenue / Hall of Fame Way will begin next Monday evening and could take 3-4 nights. Once that paving is complete, we will pave Island Pond Road. Lastly, Eversouce is finishing up their gas upgrade work on Breckwood Bouledvard. We anticipate beginning milling operation the week of May 6.

4. State Street Library Pedestrian Crossing - Bids have been opened for our sidewalk / crosswalk work for this construction season. We anticipate that the crosswalk project will begin in the next 4-6 weeks.

Donation Locations - Google My Maps Donation Locations

***ATTENTION RESIDENTS****

Last month the DPW received our annual allotment for the State of Massachusetts as part of the State's Chapter 90 program. As part of $200 million distributed statewide, the City of Springfield received $3.588,375.14 from the State.

Our annual paving program is now out to bid with work expected to begin in late May / early June.

The paving finishing up for FY24 is under construction as we speak and includes:
West Columbus Avenue
Island Pond Road
Breckwoord Boulevard

The paving list for FY25 is also attached

**NOW THAT THE ECLIPSE IS OVER!!!***

Not sure what to do with your eclipse glasses now? Lets keep them out of the landfill, and help others to safely enjoy the eclipse in their part of the world. Used but undamaged eclipse glasses can be mailed to Eclipse Glasses USA, LLC, P.O. Box 50571, Provo, Utah, 84605. The glasses will be recycled and donated to school-aged children in South America to enjoy the upcoming annual eclipse in October 2024

****ATTENTION RESIDENTS****
Major Traffic Impacts and Detours Announced by Springfield DPW and MassDOT

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is in the process of reconstructing the St. James Avenue and Tapley Street Intersection into a roundabout. Construction activities for this season have begun, however, beginning in the next few weeks, we expect that there will be major disruptions to the roadway layout, roadway grade, roadway / business access, turning movements, etc.

Beginning the week of April 8, 2024, the contractor, Morais Concrete, will begin full depth roadway reconstruction that will include significant excavation and grade modification in the project area that will result in lane modifications and road closures during the work days.

The following schedule is tentative and additional information will be provided as the dates get closer.

Week of March 25 & April 1, 2024 – the existing traffic signals will be removed and temporary traffic signals will be activated. Island removal work will begin.

Week of April 8, 2024 +/- – Stage 1 of 3 of the full depth reconstruction will begin with the removal of the islands on St. James Avenue. This removal will require lane closures in both directions of the roadway

Week of April 15, 2025 +/- – Stage 2 of 3 of the full depth reconstruction will begin with significant change in grade of the area on the west side of St. James Avenue, where Tapley Street crosses Route 291. During this period of time, access to the Tapley St. Bridge over Route 291 will be closed during the day and traffic will not be able to access the bridge in either direction. The bridge will be open to traffic during no-work hours.

Week of April 22, 2024 +/- – Stage 3 of 3 of the full depth reconstruction will begin with significant grade changes occurring on the east side of the intersection which will require the full closure of Tapley Street during work hours. Access to all adjacent properties will be maintained.

Once the full depth reconstruction is complete on or around May 1, construction of the actual roundabout will begin. There will be disruptions to traffic flow during this period, however, it is envisioned that minimal road closures will be required. Due to the construction activities during this period of work, traffic flow in all directions through the construction area will be challenged.
Detour Routes – Over the next two weeks, the contractor will be installing variable message signs along with static signs alerting drivers to the proposed detour routes around the construction area.

****TRAFFIC NOTICE****

The City of Springfield has been notified by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) that Emergency Bridge Repairs will be required on the Putts Bridge (Route 21) between Springfield and Ludlow. Prior to the work being started, the bridge will be posted for weight limits for various size vehicles by MassDOT. It is not known at this time when the repairs will exactly begin, but the weight limit posting and detour routes will be installed by MassDOT on or before April 2, 2024.

Please take note of the weight restrictions to be posted.

MassDOT has prepared the attached detour plan that should be followed by vehicles that exceed the posted limit.

****ATTENTION RESIDENTS****

Please be aware of 2 items:

1. Yard Waste Collection will begin on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Yard Waste will be collected on your recycle collection day. Yard Waste bags that have been out through the winter will not be collected. The rules and regulations associated with Yard Waste Collection can be found at https://www.springfield-ma.gov/dpw/yard-waste

2. Construction activities for City, State and Private Construction on City Roadway will begin on Monday, March 18, 2024. Please be aware that traffic may be impacted. With regards to City Paving project, we will be working on Island Pond Road, Breckwood Boulevard and West Columbus Ave. (Hall of Fame Way).

Yard Waste: Department of Public Works, City of Springfield, MA The Department of Public Works will start picking up Yard Waste on April 4th. The Solid Waste Division reminds residents to place yard waste curbside on their recycling day.

Please be advised that the Department of Public Works is targeting the first week of April to resume yard waste collection. The exact date will be determine based upon the weather as we move out of March into April. A formal notice will be posted later in the month of March.

Attention Residents

On Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at 6:00 pm at the South End Community Center, the DPW and its consultant, VHB, will present concepts for the improvements to the Union Street and Maple Street intersection.

Please see the attached flyer!

Just an FYI---the West Street Bridge between Indian Orchard and Ludlow has been reopened to traffic as of earlier this week.

Notice on Cancellation of Trash and Recycling Collection

Due to the snowstorm predicted for Tuesday, February 13, the City of Springfield Department of Public Works is cancelling the collection of Trash and Recycling for Tuesday, due the anticipated accumulation and timing of the storm.

DO NOT PLACE ANY TRASH OR RECYCLING BARRELS AT THE CURB FOR TUESDAY COLLECTION---ALSO PLEASE WAIT FOR YOUR STREET TO BE PLOWED ON TUESDAY PRIOR TO PLACING TRASH AND RECYCLING OUT FOR WEDNESDAY COLLECTION.

Residents whose items are collected on Tuesday will be collected on Saturday, February 17, 2024.

Thank you for your cooperation

Current Snowfall Map from the National Weather Service for February 13, 2024 snowstorm.

DPW will be posting additional information as we receive it from the NWS.

We have been notified by Eversource that their electrical / gas repair work at the “X” will be completed this evening. Once they are completed traffic will be returned to the normal traffic pattern. We appreciate your patience and assistance.

UPDATE FROM EVERSOURCE ON ISSUE AT THE “X”——Damage to the electrical system has been determined to be more severe than initially thought. Repair activities will continue through the weekend . Current traffic patterns will remain in place through this weekend.

Due to an electrical / gas issue, traffic in the area of the “X” will be severely impacted possibly for the next 36 hours. Numerous lanes are closed and will remain in that condition until all repair work is completed.

Travelers are urged to avoid the area and seek alternate routes!

Given the amount of snow that we have received today, residents should be aware that there is a forecast from the National Weather Service for Tuesday / Wednesday for over 2" of rain with temperatures in the high 40's / low 50's. The forecast also is showing with speeds reaching 50 mph. Property owners should check all locations around homes to make sure flooding does not become an issue.

Due to the long duration of this snowstorm and the continued snow intensity, many of the residential streets that were completed earlier in the day will be plowed again over the next 3-5 hours as some streets have 3"-5" inches of snow. This snow storm appears that it will result in a 16 - 18 hours plowing duration.

***ATTENTION RESIDENTS***
The DPW began its City-wide snow plowing operations at 2:00 am am on Sunday, January 7, 2024
With the heavy, wet total snow fall that we are expecting, it will take us 12-15 hours to complete plowing within the entire City.
The Department of Public Works will have its Snow Map available to residents to check on the status of snow plowing throughout the City during the storm. The link to follow our progress is:
http://maps.springfield-ma.gov/publicsnowmap/
The map is not a real-time depiction of snow plowing activities but rather a guide to check on the City's overall progress. We update the map every 2-3 hours during the snow plowing operation.
On the left side of the map that will be available, the DPW will be posting notices during the storm in narrative format discussing the progress of the plowing activities.
A few pieces of information:
The City has over 1100 lane miles of roadways to plow
The City plows over 800 streets
The City has under contract 100 private contractors (we need 150)
Snow plowing operations take 16-20 hours to complete the City on larger events.