Aiken Street and VFW Highway

The barrels and barricades near Aiken Street along the VFW Highway have been there so long, they might have grown roots.

The project to widen the thoroughfare by constructing a bridge has been beset by environmental concerns — most notably, the discovery of toxic earth beneath the proposed span stalled construction for nearly five years.

But the state Department of Environmental Protection has deemed the area clean, and the project resumed in earnest last March.

Since bridges are maintained by the DOT, the state, with added funding from federal infrastructure grants, is covering the costs of the long-awaited project.

The eastbound bridge over Beaver Brook is scheduled to open by year’s end. And since the contaminants have been removed and the storm-water mitigation issue has been ironed out, construction on the westbound lanes will commence thereafter.

According to MASSDOT, the $16 million project is scheduled for completion in November 2021. an traffic when we plan these projects,” Thomas said.

And he emphasized the desire to stay as true to the original look and footprint of the canal/bridge network. “Similar to how they were before,” as he put it.

Likewise, the Pawtucket Street extension that had been closed for months has reopened.

Also under the auspices of TIGER, this project is aimed at refurbishing the span across the canal. It is scheduled for full reopening in summer 2022. to the pandemic. MASSDOT said steel repairs to the bridge’s structure caused a delay and temporary lane closures, and that those steel repairs are on schedule to be done by the end of this month, allowing work on the overall project to continue.