Sides debate over construction of road

By Dan Cooper

Staff Intern

WESTFIELD - For the residents living near Westfield State College (WSC), there is still time to put a halt to the campus's proposal to build a new access road WSC feels is needed.

"The reason for the construction of this new road is to help alleviate some of the heavy traffic along Western Avenue," WSC Vice-President of Facilities and Operations Curt Robie told Reminder Publications.

Robie was referring to the college's plans to build a parking lot and connector road from Route 20's Russell Road up to Western Avenue, the location of WSC. The project, however, has drawn criticism from residents of the surrounding area and Ward Four City Councilor Mary O'Connell.

O'Connell and residents of the area around the college expressed their concerns with the project at a meeting on April 25 at the Second Congregational Church.

"While the college's intent is to alleviate traffic, when I walked the route, there were a lot of wetlands in the area," O'Connell said. "While the road may be built to avoid the wetlands, I'm not so sure the parking lot can."

O'Connell added that by building the road from Route 20 to Western Avenue, it becomes city property, since Route 20 and Western Avenue are public roadways.

"That means anyone, from the college or other places, can use this road," she said. "So the college essentially pays for the project, builds the road, and then turns it over to the city."

"We've been working on this project actively for six months," Robie said. "We hope to start and finish construction in 2009. We want this to be an access point to the college."

"The reason for the delay in construction is because there is a review process with the Massachusetts Highway Department, a filing process with the city of Westfield, and the full earmark for the project hasn't been funded yet," Robie said.

According to Robie, the total cost for the project is $2.5 million, with $2 million coming from funds earmarked for the road by Senator Edward Kennedy.

"The college is then putting in money to construct the parking lot," Robie said. "We are constructing this road according to the Mass Highway guidelines, which is something any major road construction needs to do."

Robie said the parking lot will hold around 400 to 500 cars and will serve as a commuter lot for WSC.

"We will provide a shuttle service up to the main campus for those who park in the lot," he said.

O'Connell also expressed concern that the cost of the project may exceed the $2.5 million funded.

"It looks to me that due to the location and work that needs to be done to build the road, the college is about $5 million short. I think it could cost closer to $7 million, not $2 million," she explained.

O'Connell and local residents said the college still has some hurdles to overcome before construction commences.

The residents mentioned how the safety of school children is their biggest concern, given the location of the proposed road.

The college plans to build the road adjacent to Juniper Park, an elementary school next to the main campus. Since WSC owns the land Juniper was built on, it was the easiest place to build the road, Robie said.

"The other two places we were looking at involved environmental issues as well as land taking," Robie said. "This site is college-owned property, so it made sense to build the road there."

Residents, however, do not agree with Robie. They are afraid the traffic from the road, which WSC plans to build through part of the current Juniper playground, could prove a danger to children prone to wander.

Robie said that the location couldn't be changed now due to the funds having already been appropriated.

"We are working on increasing parking and safety at Juniper Park to help address residential concerns," Robie said. "We plan on building a fence to protect the children."

Other concerns residents have expressed with the project include the noise from the construction equipment and trucks using the road, the wetland areas, and sewage problems.

Many residents said WSC's plans would require their septic tanks to be transferred to another location.

O'Connell and her constituents agreed the best way to solve the problem is to write letters to local, state and federal officials.

"Congressman John Olver is very much against this project because he is a huge conservationist," O'Connell said. "He declined the $2 million funding."

Although many residents thought the project was a done deal, Robie said it is far from finished.

"We are still in the design stages and Mass Highway has to review the proposals at 25, 50, 75, and 100 percent completion," he said.

O'Connell also stressed this point to her constituents. She said that right now, the college is only at the 25 percent stage of the project.

"So there is still time to stop the college from building this road," O'Connell said.

Residents agreed with O'Connell that a solution could be reached if WSC is willing to hear their oppositions.

Robie said the college is making an attempt to address residential concerns following a public hearing on the issue.

"My number one idea to try and do something about this project is to send a letter to your elected officials," O'Connell said. "To me, the college is a mixed blessing."