Backups begin as Big E opens

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The opening of the Great New England State Fair also means the start of Big E traffic backups.

Just a couple hours after the gates opened for the fair’s 95th season, traffic was backed up all the way across the Memorial Bridge to the Interstate 91 offramps in downtown Springfield.

Closer to the fair on Memorial Avenue, West Springfield officers are out directing traffic to get everyone moved along as safely and efficiently as possible.

One bit of good news for fair goers and area residents this year: construction in the areas near the fair will not be going on, according to Gerand Kiernan, Director of Operations for the Eastern States Exposition.

"All the bridge work that was going on last year, those projects have been completed. So I'm very confident that people coming to the exposition will notice the great changes and coming to the Big E will be unencumbered by construction," said Kiernan.

For information on parking and shuttle bus service, log-on to the Big E’s website at thebige.com.