Dedication Ceremony to Celebrate the Reopening of the Woodlawn Bridge

For Immediate Release: June 23, 2016
Contact: Corydon Thurston, Executive Director
Pittsfield Economic Development Authority

PITTSFIELD, Massachusetts. – Pittsfield Economic Development Authority (PEDA) and the City of Pittsfield will host a community dedication ceremony at the William Stanley Business Park on Monday, June 27, to celebrate the opening of the new Woodlawn Bridge.

State and local officials are expected to attend the dedication which will begin at 9:30 a.m., under a tent adjacent to the PEDA office, on the corner of Kellogg Street and Woodlawn Avenue. The ribbon cutting is scheduled for 10 a.m.

“The reopening of the Woodlawn Bridge creates an actual pathway to bring neighborhoods within the City of Pittsfield together, removing a very visible stark barrier of access. I look forward to the many ways the bridge will be utilized as a resource for our community,” said Mayor Tyer.

PEDA Executive Director Corydon Thurston echoed the mayor’s sentiments. “This will quickly become a popular route to connect from north to south, and brings important new visibility to the business park,” he said.

Closed to traffic since 2006, the reconstructed bridge bisects the William Stanley Business Park and reconnects the Morningside neighborhood with East Street. General Electric transferred the privately owned road and bridge to PEDA in December of 2011 and an agreement was reached with the state and CSX, for the demolition and reconstruction of the bridge, in August of 2012, with construction beginning three years later. The new bridge improves the rail right of way to allow CSX to transport double-stack containers between Worchester and Selkirk, NY. The $4.5 million project was funded by the state Department of Transportation.

In addition to being a valuable neighborhood connector, the bridge also completes the new 2.5 mile Morningside Walking Loop, an initiative of Be Well Berkshires and Healthy Pittsfield, with sponsorship from the Tyler Street Business Group, Berkshire Health Systems and the city. Guests will be able to participate in a ceremonial first walk of the loop, following the ceremony.

The extension of Woodlawn Avenue to East Street will open to traffic following the dedication.

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Pittsfield Economic Development Authority (PEDA) is a quasi-public agency created by a special act of the Massachusetts State Legislature, for the purpose of receiving and redeveloping approximately 52 acres of General Electric Company’s former industrial facility located in the heart of Pittsfield Massachusetts. For additional information, visit williamstanleybp.com