mt road closed.jpg

Mountain Road will close during work hours for four days in April for further microburst cleanup.

(Mary Serreze photo)

EASTHAMPTON — Mountain Road (Route 141) in Easthampton will be closed April 27, 28, 29 and 30 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. for some final cleanup and slope stabilization work needed after the Oct. 8 microburst.

The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will bring in a crane and other equipment to remove trunks, stumps and branches upslope from the state highway, said Mayor Karen Cadieux. The detritus was left in the wake of the violent early morning windstorm that damaged property and sent trees crashing onto local roadways. Route 141 was closed for more than 48 hours at the time.

A DCR spokesman said earlier this week that the work would stabilize the slope 50 to 100 feet on the east side of Route 141, which in that area climbs alongside Mt. Tom on its way to Interstate 91 and Holyoke.

The work has been scheduled to avoid inconvenience, said Cadieux: "We'll close it after the morning commute, then open it up again for the evening commute."

Cadieux said she was grateful to the DCR for taking care of the work. "It may be the DCR's property, but if anything happens, it's our problem," she said. Easthampton road crews will help out in the effort.

The DCR is also working to reopen Christopher Clark Road within the Mount Tom Reservation by late spring. The state park road was heavily damaged by the microburst.

Mary Serreze can be reached at mserreze@gmail.com