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Uxbridge moves to authorize easements and accept two roads; Route 16 rebuild to advance
Summary
At its Sept. 16 joint meeting, Uxbridge officials described several DPW items: authorizations to negotiate permanent and temporary easements for Elm/Blackstone culvert work, Route 16 (Douglas Street) reconstruction and a National Grid service easement for the Blackstone Street water treatment facility; the town also prepared street-acceptance votes for Tabor Road and Dune Lane. Appraisals and further design milestones were noted.
Town of Uxbridge DPW staff briefed the Finance Committee and Select Board on Sept. 16 about a batch of Department of Public Works articles that would authorize easement negotiations and move two street-acceptance items toward finalization.
DPW project manager Ben described Article 4 as authorization to acquire permanent and temporary easements for culvert improvement work on Elm Street and Blackstone Street, needed to accommodate bridge and culvert construction. Ben said the town has engaged an appraiser and expected a fair‑market appraisal to be available by the end of the week or the following week to guide offers to property owners.
Article 5 covers the Route 16 (Douglas Street) transportation-reconstruction project — the corridor runs roughly from the town center toward the Amazon facility. Ben said the design is at about 25% and the town expects a 75% submission later this calendar year; once the project reaches that milestone, the appraisal and easement‑offer process will begin. He noted the process will follow MassDOT and Federal Highway acquisition requirements.
Article 6 is a grant of easement at 105 Blackstone Street to convert an interim license with National Grid into a permanent easement to provide a new service drop to the water treatment facility. Ben said the town used interim licenses in prior seasons to keep projects moving and would convert them to permanent easements through Town Meeting.
For street acceptance, Ben reported Tabor Road has resolved a previously noted item and is ready to advance; Dune Lane (an older subdivision) requires reestablishing a 2004 vote and recordation after an administrative oversight. DPW staff said the drainage and other systems were functioning and that maintenance has been performed.
There were few substantive public comments; committee members asked clarifying questions about appraisals, how costs are determined for easements and whether service work would be overhead or underground for the National Grid connection. No final votes on project articles were taken at the session; the public hearing was continued to Sept. 17 at 6:30 p.m. for further action.
