A Franklin County Superior Court judge has denied a bid by two Montague Center residents to halt construction on North Street, clearing the way for the town's Complete Streets project to continue even as the underlying lawsuit remains unresolved. Judge Charles W. Groce III ruled on Oct. 20 that the plaintiffs failed to prove either a likely win on the merits of their case or irreparable harm if construction continued, denying their request for a preliminary injunction.
The ruling, reported by the Greenfield Recorder, means work on the redesigned North Street and Main Street intersection has already been completed, according to Montague Town Administrator Walter Ramsey. The rest of the Complete Streets project has continued moving forward despite the legal challenge, the paper reported. The case itself is still open, with a status-review conference scheduled for Monday, Nov. 16.
Neighbors Sue Over Driveway Extension
The lawsuit was brought by Deborah Snow and Barbara White, who live at 39 Main St. and have a driveway that exits onto North Street. Their attorney, John McNally, filed the motion for a preliminary injunction in late August, arguing the town failed to follow state law regarding town meeting requirements or notice to abutters before moving forward with the redesign. The Recorder's earlier coverage detailed how the plaintiffs argued the project could change the entire character of their home and property, and that the town had not sufficiently answered their questions about its impact.
At the center of their objection is a design that would extend their existing driveway by 31 feet, bisecting a greenway to connect it to Main Street. The plaintiffs argued the town could simply return to its earlier design, which did not include that alteration. Montague countered that the plaintiffs did not meet the criteria for injunctive relief and had no right to require public ways abutting their property to retain their original design indefinitely. The town also argued that no discontinuance of a public way required a town meeting vote or notice to abutters, and that even if the plaintiffs were owed notice, they received it through communications between the town and the residents. Montague responded to the complaint through legal counsel on Sept. 14.
What the Judge Found
In his Oct. 20 ruling, Judge Groce wrote that the requested injunction was not warranted because both of the plaintiffs' claims failed the first prong of preliminary-injunction analysis, meaning they had not shown a likelihood of success on the merits. Ramsey said the town was pleased to deliver what he called the long-awaited traffic safety improvement project, consistent with its consulting traffic engineer's design.
Two Designs, One Intersection
The project went through two design iterations before reaching its current form. Vanasse Hangen Brustlin presented the original design to the public in September 2024, and Bowman Engineering developed the updated version in January 2026. The town sought resident feedback on that redesign between Jan. 5 and Jan. 12 before moving ahead. The final design calls for a 90-degree single connection between North Street and Main Street, intended to improve cyclist safety and allow for safer turns.
Beyond the reconfigured intersection, the Complete Streets project includes raised crosswalks along Main Street, flashing beacons meant to alert drivers to pedestrians, and a marked bike lane. According to the Recorder's earlier reporting, the goals include reducing vehicle speeds and providing safer, more attractive crosswalks, along with improved parking and accessibility throughout Montague Center.
Funding and the Road Ahead
The project is funded by a roughly $500,000 construction grant from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The town awarded a $492,986 construction contract to Taylor Davis Landscape Co. after signing a Notice to Proceed on July 13. Massachusetts has described its broader Complete Streets program as a way for municipalities to fund upgrades to accessibility, quality of life and safety for all road users, according to Mass.gov.
While construction moves forward, the legal dispute between Snow, White and the town is far from settled. The Franklin County Superior Court case remains open following the denial of the injunction, and its next hearing is already on the calendar for Nov. 16, when attorneys are expected to appear for a status-review conference.
