West Springfield braces for Big E traffic

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The final countdown is on, for the start of New England's Great State Fair.

Hundreds of Thousands of out-of- staters will visit West Springfield starting Friday.

The thousands of people who come to enjoy the Big E aren't just out-of-towners. Many West Springfield residents look forward to the fun all year long. But it's not all fun for locals during those 17 days... and the normal day-to-day tasks can take a whole lot longer with so many visitors in town.

It's billed as the biggest fair in the Northeast. The Big E never fails to draw huge crowds. And huge crowds go hand-in-hand with plenty of traffic.

“If it's good weather, it's going to be traffic all day,” said Larry Smith of West Springfield.

But even prior to the start of the fair, it hasn't exactly been smooth sailing throughout the town. And West Springfield DPW Director Rob Colson told 22News all the construction along routes 5 and 20 will continue throughout the Big E.

The Big E is somewhat of a double edged sword for West Springfield residents. On one hand they have a front row seat to all the fun.  Normally quick trips like commuting to work or heading to the store become more of a headache during those 17 days.

“I'm looking forward to being close so I can go across the street and go to the state buildings which is what I enjoy. And not have to worry about the parking. I work in Connecticut, so I'm figuring out alternate routes for coming home from work,” said West Springfield resident Anna Cruz.

But bumper-to-bumper traffic or not, most West Springfield residents love having such a fun tradition right down the street.

“Everybody looks forward to the Big E. Everybody. And a lot of people around here buy season tickets so they can come and go as they please. You've got to be patient. It's once a year, but I think more people look forward to it than not,” said Larry Smith of West Springfield.

Smith said it's mostly visitors unfamiliar with the area who get caught in the traffic. He said West Springfield residents should just give themselves a few extra minutes and avoid Memorial Ave.