PITTSFIELD, Mass. - The Holmes Road Bridge has been reduced to one lane traffic for four years and starting Friday, it will be closed until late August while a new bridge is built.

MassDOT is advising drivers to seek an alternate route, and first responders are having to make adjustments as well. The Pittsfield Fire Department is temporarily stationing firefighters in Lenox during construction on Holmes Road.

In addition to a fire engine, the department moved some radio equipment, beds and other supplies into the Lenox station before the bridge closure started.

Pittsfield Fire Captain Tim Conroy said the station on Route 7 is not staffed by the Lenox Fire Department full-time, and it allows Pittsfield firefighters to cover the southern part of Holmes Road, which has about a mile of homes located in Pittsfield.

“Usually that territory is covered by Engine Six, which is housed on Holmes Road," Conroy said. "They would have to come out of Holmes Road and then go up East Street and come all the way around. It would take another good five to ten minutes for them to respond in that area, which would (usually) take them two to three minutes from their station.

"So, we have one officer and two firefighters for each shift. We're going to be here 24/7, so we're actually going to be living here until the bridge is done, which they’re telling us is 60 days.”

The project is set to be completed by Aug. 25. Conroy said Pittsfield firefighters at the temporary station will also cover some territory in Lenox to help out their department in the event of an emergency.