Millville residents to have say on road construction project
Work up for public discussion at June 19 meeting
MILLVILLE — Town residents next month will be able to weigh in on the $1.3 million Central Street Improvement project – an ambitious construction project that will include new roadway reconstruction, sidewalks and drainage improvements and better connectivity to the town center for pedestrians and bicyclists.
The selectmen will hold a public forum on the project, which is underway, during its regular meeting on June 19.
“We’re moving at a sound pace with the state and work- ing with a MassWorks coordinator who is intimately involved,” Town Administrator Jennifer Callahan said last week. “This will be a great time for
residents to weigh in and offer feedback or to just learn about what we’re doing.”
Last year, the town was awarded a $1 million MassWorks grant for the project, one of only 10 communities in the state chosen for the latest round of MassWorks grant funding, which helps communities with populations of 7,000 or less repair roads and bridges.
The MassWorks grant is one of the biggest grants the town has ever received.
Town officials began the $1.3 million Central Street Improvement project this spring.
Central Street is the town’s most traveled road, spanning Lincoln Street to Providence Street near the Rhode Island town line. Central Street handles approximately 6,000 vehicles as day, 16 percent of which are heavy trucks.
Callahan says the proposed project would connect newer sidewalks with those on the John Dean Memorial Bridges, which were completed in 2010. The project would also provide a safer, ADA compliant walking experience for the projected increase in pedestrian traffic that is expected to be generated by the Blackstone River Greenway Bike Path, a 3.7mile stretch in Blackstone, Millville and Uxbridge, that is on target to open later this year. The southern end of the Massachusetts stretch has been under construction for the past two years, including bridge repairs. The Greenway in this stretch is 3.7 miles of trails and a multi-use path along the former railroad line between South Uxbridge, Route 146A, through Millville and to the Blackstone Depot site.
The five key aspects of the Central Street Improvement Project are road reconstruction, including pavement marking and traffic calming elements; new sidewalks to improve connectivity from Center Street to Providence Street; drainage improvements; wheelchair ramps at all driveways and intersections; and bicycle signage and accommodations to tie into the Blackstone River Greenway Bike Path.
The total $1.3 million price tag for the project includes $20,000 for surveying; $5,000 for permitting; $150,000 for design and engineering; and $1,125,000 for actual construction.
The town is contributing $300,000 in state Chapter 90 money towards the project.
The town has already begun surveying, design and engineering work. A construction contract was awarded in March. The town is working with TEC Engineering & Design on the project.
The entire project is expected to be completed by the end of next year.