Section 1. Notwithstanding any provision of General Law Chapter 85, Section 2, or any other general or special law to the contrary, the Pittsfield City Council is hereby authorized to prohibit heavy commercial traffic from Merriam Street and South Merriam Street extending from West Housatonic Street to West Street.  Said prohibition shall not apply to the following:

(1)   Commercial vehicles going to and from premises situated on Merriam Street and South Merriam Street or to which vehicle access cannot be had except by the use of Merriam Street and South Merriam Street;

(2)   Commercial vehicles belonging to the City of Pittsfield or operated by or in connection with City departments; or such vehicles belonging to or operated by public service corporations, public utility corporations, or private corporations in the performance of contractual service to the City or in connection with work required to be done on Merriam Street and South Merriam Street; and

(3)   Police of fire department vehicles, ambulances, or other emergency vehicles; and

(4)   Vehicles engaged in the collection or distributing United States mail.

Section 2. This Act shall take effect upon its passage.