Helping a town, one road at a time

Right in the middle of the town of Lenox is the intersection of Routes 183 and 7A, and the start of a road that leads straight through the heart of the Berkshires.

These roads comprise the Lenox town center and continue for a 1.5 mile stretch to what that state Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli calls "the main corridor of the Berkshires" as it is the route to Tanglewood, the famed musical retreat.

Travel on these roads, especially in the summer, is extremely heavy - last summer about 350,000 people were estimated to have visited Tanglewood and have a tremendous economic impact on the region - but the narrow roads needed to be restored and lacked sidewalks.

A series of stimulus awards totaling approximately $4.3 million will provide much-needed reconstruction, restoration and improvements to the pavement, drainage and sidewalks on this route.

For the local residents as well as the tourists, the restored roads will be a welcome relief. But for Justin Bourbeau, who was hired to work on this stimulus funded project, it is something more: It is a job.

Bourbeau now works as an assistant resident engineer on this project. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in civil engineering. He said he had been checking the state websites looking for an opening and when he heard about the position he knew it would be a great fit. He is not disappointed.

"I love this job," he said.