Have You Hit the New West Street Speed Humps Yet?

Pittsfield, I have some polarizing news to share.

There are two new speed humps on West Street, and if your morning commute felt a little different today, now you know why.

One is located at West and Euclid, and the other across from the park and the apartments near the new traffic signal at West and Government Drive.

For those of you still processing, we understand. This is a lot. In fact, we've been through this before, and if the Holmes Road speed hump has taught us anything, it's that Pittsfield drivers go through a very specific emotional journey every time one of these things appears.

Allow us to walk you through the five stages.

Denial. "That wasn't there yesterday. That cannot be there. I refuse to acknowledge that is there." You slow down anyway.

Anger. This is the longest stage. It can last anywhere from three days to the rest of your natural life. The Holmes Road hump has kept some of us here since its installation.

Bargaining. "If I just slow down to like 12 miles per hour maybe I won't feel it." You feel it.

Depression. You start taking a different route. The different route has a pothole. There is no winning.

Acceptance. You barely notice it anymore. You've become one with the hump. You ARE the hump.

Welcome to West Street, Pittsfield's newest traffic calming adventure. The speed humps are part of the ongoing West Street reconfiguration project aimed at slowing traffic and improving pedestrian safety in the area.

The final paving of West Street starts next week according to Commissioner of Public Works, Ricardo Morales.

The city means well. We know that. But so did whoever put that thing on Holmes Road, and look how that turned out.

At least it's not like Oak Hill Road in Pittsfield. Have you experienced that stretch yet?