Contractors working for the Buckeye Pipeline Company will be clearing vegetation along the Redstone Rail Trail. Buckeye owns a fuel pipeline that extends from New Haven Harbor in Connecticut to the Westover Air Force Base In western Massachusetts. This pipeline is located along the Rail Trail. Buckeye is required by the US Department of Transportation to clear vegetation so that the entire pipeline route can be seen during regular aerial patrolling of the route.

Work on the first segment of the trail from Denslow Road to Industrial Drive will start on Friday August 15th and will be limited to mowing along the existing rail trail. Beginning Monday August 18th, Buckeye’s crews will begin using motorized brush cutting equipment to clear woody vegetation along the trail north of Industrial Drive. Work will progress in two segments: from Industrial Drive north to Chestnut Street and then from Chestnut Street north to Maple Street. Each segment is expected to take up to 3 days to complete, during which time the respective rail trail segment will be closed to public use from 7 AM until 6:30 PM to keep the public away from the brush cutting equipment and avoid potential safety concerns. The trail will be fully opened to users during the weekend.

Signs will be posted at the entry points to the rail trail later this week advising users of the latest schedule and Buckeye will coordinate daily with the East Longmeadow Department of Public Works so that daily schedule updates can be provided.