SAVOY, Mass. (AP) - A western Massachusetts road washed out by the remnants of Hurricane Irene nearly six years ago has finally reopened.
The Berkshire Eagle (https://bit.ly/2rivdFc ) reports that Black Brook Road in Savoy, population 700, reopened last week after a yearslong battle with federal and state officials over the cost.
The cost of repairs to the road washed out in August 2011 was first pegged at $1.6 million by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The final cost for the 1.3-mile stretch of road ended up being about $7 million.
Highway Superintendent Daniel LaBonte says before the storm about 80 vehicles a day used the road. The closing forced drivers to take detours of up to 45 minutes.
Town officials say reopening the road was critical to reducing emergency vehicle response times.
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Information from: The Berkshire (Mass.) Eagle, https://www.berkshireeagle.com
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