CHICOPEE — A $640,000 Winter Recovery Assistance Program grant from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation will benefit roadway improvements after being accepted by the City Council during their March 21 meeting. The Winter Recovery Assistance Program is initially funded by an allocation from the city’s free cash account before being fully reimbursed by the grant.

Mayor John Vieau presented the item as part of his mayor’s orders. Vieau explained that the funding will benefit a pavement project on East Main Street.

“This award will provide funding for the East Main Street resurfacing project … We are really excited to receive this [grant], it helps us do more resurfacing in Chicopee,” said Vieau.

City Engineer Doug Ellis considered the project a “quick job” as Winter Recovery Assistance Program funding dictates that all funded projects are completed by the end of June, which is the conclusion of fiscal year 2023. Ellis said the paving will occur from the city’s American Legion building to the border between Chicopee and Springfield, covering approximately 2,200 feet in paving.

“We are milling 2 inches and repaving, this is not a full reconstruction job,” said Ellis.

Along with repaving the road, the city will be restriping the East Main Street as a one-lane street. The street will remain a two-lane roadway entering the city as Chicopee cannot dictate Springfield’s road schematics.

“We are going to restripe it to one-lane leaving Chicopee to two-lanes coming in [to the city] … It will also include a left lane turning into Mass Alternative Care [on 1247 East Main St.],” said Ellis.

Vieau also shared that several roadway projects will begin with the start of the spring season to “rectify some of the older intersections and pedestrian crossings throughout the city.” He hopes for these projects to help improve roadway safety.

“The DPW will be working on restriping, that will be starting very soon, especially for our crosswalks,” said Vieau.

The mayor said the DPW and Ellis are diligently working to put several projects out to bid. One of the projects he mentioned was the construction of roadway islands and rectangular rapid flashing beacons on the northern side of Chicopee Street.

“It’s a 50-foot wide-span road. What the engineers had felt in the best interest of moving forward was to put a refugee island in the middle, which is also part of a street diet, so that helps to slow down traffic. Also, with the presence of rapid flashing beacons, we’re hopeful that will get the attention of drivers to make sure the pedestrians [can cross safely],” said Vieau.

Roadway improvements on Chicopee Street have become a central focus following three pedestrian crashes since the fall 2022. Vieau is also enacting a Safe Streets initiative across Chicopee, accepting suggestions from local leaders and residents that will improve antiquated crossings in high-traffic areas.

The City Council approved the grant funding in a unanimous vote.

The City Council will meet again on April 4.