Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Works Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Westborough moves to shore up stormwater and sewer infrastructure as bids push culvert project over budget
Summary
Voters approved $600,000 from the stormwater enterprise fund to close a bid shortfall on the Bowman Lane culvert replacement and $95,000 from sewer retained earnings to replace a failed pump‑station generator; town officials said the Bowman Lane corridor carries about 70% of the town’s water and that failing infrastructure would be an emergency.
Town meeting on Oct. 21 approved two infrastructure appropriations to address near‑term risks. Chris Pant, the director of public works, told voters that bids for the Bowman Lane culvert replacement came in higher than the $950,000 originally appropriated; the low bid pushed total estimated construction costs to about $1.5 million, and the article requested an additional $600,000 from the stormwater enterprise fund to allow the project to proceed. Pant emphasized the critical role of the culvert corridor, which carries water lines and a sewer line and transmits about 70% of the town’s water supply; "If that culvert were to fail... that's emergency level for the whole town," he said.
Separately, the meeting approved $95,000 from sewer retained earnings to replace a failed generator at a pump station. Pant explained the larger‑than‑typical cost was driven by site constraints, generator size and associated control work; DPW said a portable generator is available for temporary response but not as a long‑term solution for large pump‑station needs.
Both measures passed comfortably (culvert $600,000 vote 310–46; sewer generator $95,000 vote 322–34). DPW officials plan to proceed with procurement and shop‑drawing review over the winter and begin construction in the spring.
