SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – The Big E is on Friday which means for many, the excitement is building. And soon, so will that dreaded traffic. Western Mass News went on a quest to find the secret ways to get to The Big E.
As you drive along I-91, exit signs point you to The Big E. The upcoming traffic described by viewers as “difficult,” “necessary,” “inevitable,” and “horrific.” However, the Massachusetts Fire Technologies Chief Executive Officer James Burchall had a different point of view: “I think it’s joyful!”
“Joyful” is certainly one way to describe it, but nonetheless, it’s a struggle we can all relate to. Never one to back down from a challenge though, our reporter set out on a quest to find the best, most secret ways to get to The Big E starting with our in-house expert photographer, Mr. Erik Rosario. “I don’t feel good giving out my route because then everybody’s gonna use it. But I would say the best route to get to The Big E would be the North End Bridge, keep going up Park Avenue, then take a left onto River Road, the backroads there my favorite is Roanoake, which turns into Rourke Street, and takes me right up to media parking. I can be in and out in five minutes.” Said Rosario.
Unfortunately, though, not everybody gets media parking privileges. A lot of us have to resort to paying for spots, like in Massachusetts Fire Technologies’ parking lot. Burchall explained that over the years, he’s mastered his gameplan. “I’d come in via 291, 391, or 91, over the Springfield Bridge which is West Street. I’d come through the rotary, I’d come down Park Street, then I’d take River Road along the river and come around kinda on the back side and avoid Memorial Avenue.” Said the CEO.
But hey, if you don’t trust our photographers or parking space salesmen, take it from the man in charge, The Big E President and Chief Executive Officer Gene Cassidy himself: “Use route 75, come in through the backroads of Suffield, come in through Granby and Southwick or whatever. But for local people, you avoid Memorial Avenue, and you use either Park Ave or Elm Street to get to the fairgrounds… There are only so many roads in, and hopefully people are patient. It is always easy traveling on Mondays and Tuesdays.”
Now that we’ve got you answers, enjoy The Big E, and don’t forget to download the Western Mass News app, for all things fair including First Alert Weather, and of course, live traffic cameras.
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