Arbor Day Tree Distribution

The Northampton Tree Committee and the Department of Public Works will be giving away free saplings to Northampton residents on Friday April 30th and Saturday May 1st between 8:30AM and 1PM at the Recycling Center at 125 Locust Street. Kousa Dogwood, Rose of Sharon, Pin Oak. One per resident while supplies last.

Street Sweeping Underway

Street sweepers are moving through the Wards in the following order: 1,7,6,5,4,3, then 2 this year. DPW expects to begin sweeping the Wards the week of April 26. The main roads are completed and the schools will be done next week. Street sweeping will take place 24 hours per day, Monday through Friday. It will take longer than usual this year due to overtime cutbacks.

West Farms Road Paving Schedule

Palmer Paving Corporation has submitted the following schedule of operations for West Farms Road paving work:
Monday April 19-no work due to Patriot's Day holiday.
April 20, 21, and 22 crews will be reclaiming the existing pavement and rough grading the resulting gravel material. (Reclaiming involves pulverizing the existing roadway with a large machine. Expect traffic delays and lane closures.)

The week of April 26 to April 30 work will involve fine grading the gravel road base and installing the first layer of pavement. (Expect traffic delays and lane closures.)

Beginning Monday, May 3 crews will be adjusting existing manhole and catch basin structures in the blacktop roadway and installing new curbing. (Expect traffic delays and lane closures.)

This is a tentative schedule and, as always, subject to unforeseen weather delays.

Contact Tom Smith at 587-1570 x 4310 or Laura Hanson at 587-1570 x 4312 for further information or questions.

Water Main Flushing

The Water Division will begin its annual systematic water main flushing program on April 19th, 2010. Crews will be going out Monday through Friday from 11:00 P.M. to 6:00 A.M. for the Leeds and downtown area and 3:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M. for all other areas for approximately 4 weeks. The flushing will begin in the Ward 7 Leeds area and proceed through Florence and Bay State, continuing to downtown Northampton and Ward 3. Water customers may temporarily experience low water pressure or discolored water during this service.

The flushing program is performed as a recommendation by the Department of Environmental Protection to maintain high quality water standards. For further information, contact the Northampton Department of Public Works at 587-1570.

Roundabout:Pedestrian/Bicyclist Detour Route

There will be a detour created for pedestrian and bicycle traffic during Phase 1 of the Route 9 Roundabout construction. For safety reasons, citizens will be directed around the work zone via the rail trail, temporary sidewalks and two temporary crosswalks. Within the next two weeks, watch for new signs explaining the pedestrian and bicycle detour route. The original sidewalk should be reopened in approximately six months. Thank you for your patience during construction.