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Northborough approves application for Hudson Street small-bridge design grant
Summary
The Select Board unanimously approved submission of a MassDOT Municipal Small Bridge Program grant application to fund design and investigation work for the Hudson Street stone-arch bridge, seeking up to $150,000 and reducing the town’s capital-design outlay if awarded.
The Select Board voted unanimously on Dec. 15 to authorize Public Works to submit a MassDOT Municipal Small Bridge Program grant application to fund design and investigation for the Hudson Street stone-arch bridge.
Scott Charpentier, the town’s public works director, described the bridge as an aging stone-arch structure with voids in its spandrel walls, cracks in arch blocks and a closed sidewalk ordered by MassDOT. Charpentier said the municipal program will award up to $150,000 for design services; the town has design in its capital plan for about $170,000, so an award would reduce the town’s net outlay.
"I would not wanna close that bridge," Charpentier said, noting the structure is a critical local route and the town hopes to pursue a repair-and-maintain approach rather than full reconstruction. The board asked staff to emphasize repair rather than reconstruction in the application narrative and to include detour and criticality information that supports the request.
Charpentier said construction-season awards are typically announced before the 2026 construction season and he hopes to learn of any award before Town Meeting so warrant figures can be adjusted. The board’s motion (moved by Jacob Jones and seconded by Laura Zieten) approved submission of the application and passed unanimously.
