Davitt Bridge in Chicopee to close May 21st

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - A major bridge construction project is expected to cause some major traffic headaches for western Massachusetts drivers.

The Davitt Memorial Bridge connects Granby Road to the center of Chicopee. Many drivers use the bridge to get to work or to go grocery shopping.

Beginning next Monday, all those activities will take twice as long. The bridge will close on Monday, May 21st, beginning at around 7 in the morning and it will remain closed for over 2 years .

The existing bridge structure will be demolished, and a new bridge will be built in its place. A temporary bridge has been built for pedestrians, right next to the current bridge.

Residents who live nearby said, without a direct car access to the other side of the Chicopee River, everything, like picking up their grandchildren from school, will take much longer.

Mavis Ennis of Chicopee told 22News, “Going to take a lot longer. If her father doesn't pick her up and she needs to go somewhere for an appointment, it's going to take twice as long.”

One way to get to Chicopee Center when the Davitt Bridge is closed is to get on I-391 and use exit 2, which brings drivers directly to downtown.

There are different ways to get to the center, if you're coming from Memorial Drive or Chicopee Street; for more information click here .