State police closed both side of the turnpike at about 11 a.m. and reopened them about 15-20 minutes later.
Eastbound traffic on the Mass Pike in Becket on the morning of August 6, 2013. BECKET - State police shut down the Massachusetts Turnpike for a short time late Tuesday morning to accommodate blasting work.
The blasting was done on the rocky cut-through that accommodates the eastbound lanes and the westbound lanes were also shut down as a precaution, said Trooper Joseph Tetrault, who is attached to the Westfield barracks.
“Some of the rock, over time, has come down and they need to expand that area,” Tetrault said, adding that the area is question is about 5 miles east of Exit 2, which serves Lee.
State police shut down both sides of the turnpike at about 11 a.m. and reopened them about 15 to 20 minutes later, Tetrault said.
Although the shut down caused motorists to back up in both directions, traffic is now flowing smoothly.
Notices of the shut down were posted on electronic message boards. beginning last weekend, Tetrault said.
The project is ongoing and periodic blasting in the area, along with shut downs, are anticipated through October, Tetrault said.