Work continues on the downtown reconstruction project, which is focused on improving accessibility, safety, and traffic flow at the intersection of Main Street, Amity Street, North Pleasant Street, and South Pleasant Street. Construction is scheduled Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is expected to continue for at least four more weeks.
Construction schedule
- Week of August 18: Crews will place the first coat of asphalt on Monday. The intersection will remain open to traffic, with some detours during the day. For the rest of the week, crews will raise utility structures and catch basins.
- Week of August 25: Work will continue on structures, with new work on crosswalks, ramps, and curbing.
All work is weather dependent. Updates will be posted at amherstma.gov/news and CivicAlerts.
Measures to support businesses
To ease access during construction, the Town of Amherst, the Business Improvement District (BID), and the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce have introduced the following:
- Free 2-hour parking in the North Pleasant Street lot (behind CVS) through Labor Day (September 1). No overnight parking.
- Street parking on Main, Amity, North Pleasant, and South Pleasant will reopen on weekends (Friday 5 p.m. through Sunday 5 p.m.). Curb heights may vary, so use caution.
- The intersection remains open anytime crews are not actively paving, and always after 5 p.m. and on weekends.
- A coordinated marketing campaign by the BID and Chamber to promote businesses during construction.
Downtown development
Town officials describe the work as part of a broader set of investments in public spaces and infrastructure. Recent improvements include:
- Kendrick Park playground
- North Common restoration
- New wayfinding signs
- Street cleaning and plantings by the BID
- Outdoor dining parklets
- Year-round programming on the Common and throughout downtown
Planned improvements include a public restroom at Kendrick Park, upgrades to Boltwood Walk Plaza with support from an AARP Community Challenge grant, and the development of downtown design guidelines and streetscape standards.
