The City of Westfield is constantly improving to become a safer, more efficient, and more aesthetically pleasing community. The following is a summary of various projects completed through the Westfield Engineering Department for the better part of the past decade.

The Great River Bridge - 2012

Park Square Green - 2012 

This project was an effort to revitalize the main arteries and central green space of the downtown area. Improvements include complete reconstruction and reorganization of the roadways and traffic system at the intersections of Main, Broad, Elm, and Court Streets. Sidewalks were improved, street trees were planted, and infrastructure was upgraded. The central piece of these improvements is the new Park Square Green. This modern space is set up for accessibility, convenience, and aesthetics, and includes a stage for performances, a multilevel fountain, and a broad green space ideal for arts festivals, concerts, or a picnic in the park. Upcoming improvements will include state-of-the-art, energy efficient LED lighting and a multi-season pavilion. Construction and installation of the pavilion to be undertaken by the Westfield Vocational-Technical High School.

Park Square Pavilion - 2016

The Park Square Green Pavilion in Westfield was built with help from students and faculty at Westfield Vocational Technical High School. This cooperative effort between students and professionals is a truly unique project. For the overall plans and elevations, door elevations and details, and the electrical plans with details and schedules, please see Park Square Pavilion.

Westfield River Esplanade - 2016

This Project consisted of a multi-use trail connecting a future portion of the Columbia Greenway with Elm Street and Sacket Street. With these connections, we set up for future expansion of Multi-use trails to the East and West along the top of Westfield River Levee. See Westfield River Esplanade.

North Elm Street and Notre Dame Intersection Improvements- 2016

The City of Westfield improved the road alignment, traffic flow, and drainage along this corridor. New, optimized traffic signals were installed at the intersection, and dedicated turn lanes and signals were added and/or enhanced. A center turn lane along North Elm Street was added for utilizing access of adjacent streets while maintaining two through lanes both north and south bound. Sidewalks were also addressed as part of this effort.

Gas Light District Improvements - 2017

This project consisted of various infrastructure and streetscape improvements in the area bounded by Court St, Elm St, Franklin St and Washington St, known as the Gas Light District. The intent was to create a very pedestrian and bicycle friendly environment and encourage the arts and entertainment industry within the district. General design standards set for recent "Old Town" projects were used and enhanced.

Williams Riding Way Pump Station Improvements - 2017

Major improvements to the station include electrical, HVAC, mechanical, and abatement of hazardous materials, along with water pumping, heat, and energy enhancements. For more information, see Williams Riding Way Pump Station.

Court St, Franklin St, and W. Silver St Re-striping - 2017

Court St, Franklin St, and W. Silver St Re-striping Plans

Route 187 (Feeding Hills Rd, Little River Rd) Reconstruction - 2018

Improvements to Route 187 have allowed for better pedestrian and traffic flow, increasing safety and efficiency, to this heavily traveled road. See Route 187 for more details.

Municipal Playground Pickleball Courts - 2019

 This project involved the removal of the three clay tennis courts at Municipal Playground and replacing them with six asphalt pickleball courts and one asphalt multi-use court, for pickleball and tennis. Associated work involved adding a new swale and yard drain for improved drainage, replacement and addition of chain link fencing, an additional fence gate for easier access to the courts, and new LED lights for evening play. The construction for this project started mid-June 2019. Substantial completion for the project was September 2019.
 

Western Avenue Improvements, Phase 1 - 2020

 This project consists of roadway improvements along Western Avenue, westerly from the intersection of Llewellyn Drive and extending easterly for approximately 2.4 miles to the intersection of Court, High, and Mill Streets. It also includes improvements on Lloyds Hill Road and West Silver Street between Western Avenue and Mill Street. The first phase was completed in Fall 2020 and included Western Avenue from Llewellyn Drive to approximately Fairview Avenue. 
 
 Phase 2 will continue from the end of Phase 1 near Fairview Avenue and extends to the Court, High, and Mill Street intersections. It will also include the improvements to Lloyds Hill Road and West Silver Street. Phase 2 is currently in the design stage with construction estimated to start in 2021.
 

Springfield Road Traffic Signal Improvements - 2020

This project included a new traffic signal on Springfield Road (Route 20) near the entrance to 99 Springfield Road, roughly halfway between the existing traffic signals at Union Street and Walmart. It included widening Springfield Road to accommodate a dedicated westbound left turn lane into the shopping plazas on the south side of the road. The signal is coordinated with the existing adjacent traffic signals to improve traffic flow through the corridor. The project was completed mid-2020.
 

Union Street Traffic Signal Improvements - 2020

This project included a coordinated traffic signal system at the intersection of Union Street with Springdale Road and with Paper Mill Road. Due to the close proximity of the two intersections, the traffic signals are coordinated to function as one intersection. The project provides safety improvements at the intersections as well as reductions in traffic backups on Springdale Road. The project was completed in Fall 2020.

Union Street Sidewalk Improvements - 2021

This project included the replacement and addition of sidewalks on both the north side and (a portion of) the south side of Union Street encompassed by Union Avenue (Route 10-202) on the west end of the project and the Park Square Townhouses (#140 Union Street) on the east end. Work consisted of replacing and extending the existing sidewalks on the north side of Union Street with mild to moderate re-grading, a new sidewalk along the south side of Union Street, new curbing on both sides of the street, replacement and re-grading of driveway aprons, and a new crosswalk with rapid flashing beacons (RFB's) located at the Powdermill Village Apartments that can be utilized to access PVTA bus stops. The project was completed in Fall 2021.

Columbia Greenway Crossing at Shaker Road - 2021

This project provides enhanced safety measures to users of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail crossing at the intersection of Shaker Road. This project also includes a connector to Country Club Drive to accommodate a desire for recreation via walking, jogging, biking, and cross-country skiing on City-owned property. The project was substantially completed in early Fall 2021.

Columbia Greenway, Phase 1- 2012, Ph. 2 - 2015, Ph. 3 - 2016, Ph. 4 - 2018 (Final Phase ETA - 2021)

The Columbia Greenway Rail Trail is Westfield’s Rail Trail. It is a multi-modal linear park, which follows along a portion of the route of the former New York / New Haven / Hartford Rail Road (and one-time Northampton, Massachusetts to New Haven, Connecticut canal). Stretching from Southwick, Massachusetts to the south, to the Great (Westfield) River Bridge to the north, the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail traverses downtown Westfield on a mostly elevated line for a total of 3.2 miles. The first section from Southwick to just south of Tin Bridge was completed in Fall 2012. The second phase extended the trail northerly to East Silver Street and was completed in Summer 2015. The third phase of the project continued its northward extension to Main Street and was completed in late 2016. The fourth phase, completed in 2018, focused on the northern end of the Rail Trail, with major rehabilitation to the trail's bridge over the Westfield River. The final phase of the project is currently under construction (2020-2021), connecting from Main Street up to the Westfield River. This final and critical section will bring the elevated off-street trail straight through the heart of Downtown Westfield.

The Rail Trail incorporates bridge crossings of all streets in the downtown, with one surface street crossing at Shaker Road. The trail ties into the Southwick trail to the south which then becomes the Farmington Valley Greenway, extending southerly to New Haven, Connecticut. The Columbia Greenway Rail Trail is currently being extended to the northern bank of the Westfield River. Future connection to communities in Southampton, Easthampton (the Manhan Rail Trail) and Northampton (the Norwottuck Rail Trail) is currently being evaluated.

City View Road Culvert Replacement - 2022

This project replaced the culvert under City View Road, feeding Jack's Brook into Little River. It included the replacement of a failed corrugated metal arch culvert with a new 6.5 ft. tall by 12 ft. wide precast concrete box culvert, as well as new wingwalls and headwalls, modified rockfill drainage swales, new roadway pavement in the affected area, as well as new metal guardrails on each side of the road. This project was completed in Fall 2022.