MONTAGUE — As the town continues to push for improvements to the dangerous intersection at Route 63 and North Leverett Road, the state Department of Transportation reports a reconfigured design could be presented to the public in late 2024 or early 2025.

Town Planner Maureen Pollock updated the Selectboard this week that the wheels are turning on the effort to better the notorious spot, which she said ranks 10th on Franklin County’s list of 50 worst crash sites of the past half-century.

“In 2019, you requested that MassDOT look at the intersection,” Pollock told the board. “And MassDOT is looking at it.”

An intersection design completion date, with readiness to advertise for construction, is expected for the fall of 2026, according to MassDOT spokesperson John Goggin. The state Transportation Improvement Program’s advertising date — when funding may be available — is projected to be in the early winter of 2028.

Goggin wrote in an email that MassDOT sent the project review committee’s letter of approval to Montague on Jan. 10, 2020, and a scoping meeting was held two years later. The designer received a notice to proceed in May 2023.

“More information on the project will be available once the 25% design is complete,” Goggin wrote, “which will be presented at the design public hearing in late 2024 or early 2025.”

The Greenfield Recorder reported in March 2016 on the frequency of accidents at this intersection. At least 19 accidents were documented on a 5-mile stretch of road on Route 63 in Montague between January 2015 and March 2016. These included a fatal tractor-trailer crash that killed two young Millers Falls residents in February 2016 and an incident in which a motorcyclist fracturid his spine after crashing into rusty farm equipment.

“We understand the importance of this issue, and will perform a careful analysis of all information collected,” MassDOT spokesperson Judi Riley said at the time.

Charles “Chip” Dodge, who was serving as Montague’s police chief, at the time, reported the town was “constantly asking the state to do something.”

Earlier this year, the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) solicited public comments that were included in its Regional Transportation Plan, available on its website at bit.ly/3sCmuyF. Several residents highlighted the intersection where North Leverett Road meets Route 63 as being particularly in need of change.

“I have personally witnessed two serious accidents at this intersection while waiting to cross. The [sight] lines to the north from [Route] 47 and North Leverett Road are blocked by the height of the bridge over the Sawmill River,” wrote Montague resident David Dempsey. “With cars coming south on 63 at 45-50 mph, there is very little room for error if you pull into the intersection when you cannot see vehicles approaching from the north. Thanks for helping to make the intersection safer.”

“I live in Leverett and traveled to Turners Falls for 20 years five days a week,” Judi Fonsh wrote. “In both directions, due to the angular nature of the intersection, it was always worrisome who would turn where or when as I went north. As I returned from Turners, it was very hard to see if there were cars coming from the north and I worried I pulled out too far into 63 to see! I still sometimes drive that route with the same worries. I hope a plan to increase safety there will be possible!”

Selectboard Chair Richard Kuklewicz said at Monday’s meeting that he hopes the town can be patient to get the work completed.

“It seems like these things take time,” he said.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or
413-930-4120.