CUMMINGTON — Chief Michael Perkins and the Cummington Police Department advise motorists to avoid Route 9, if possible, because of trees and wires in a one-mile stretch that remains closed. A significant percentage of homes and businesses in town remain without power.
Police were called just before 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 17, to a stretch of Route 9 between Packard and West Cummington roads after winds gusting up to 60 mph knocked down a large number of trees, utility poles and utility wires.
Immediately police closed that part of the road. Crews are working with the local utilities, Eversource and Verizon, to clean up the scene and reopen Route 9.
As of 12:30 p.m., Eversource estimated that 490 of 579 customers (85 percent) of Cummington remained without power.
Chief Perkins advises motorists to take care with the routes they choose to avoid the road closure. Passenger vehicles are able to easily travel on West Cummington Road, but trucks and tractor-trailers are not.
“We’re working to restore roadway access as soon as possible with the town’s utility partners,” Chief Perkins said. “High winds will definitely affect that timeline. We appreciate drivers’ patience.”
The National Weather Service has a high-wind warning in effect through Monday for most of Massachusetts, including Cummington.
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