Town of Bridgewater Awarded $500K Grant for Intersection Improvements at Summer and Plymouth Streets

The Town of Bridgewater was awarded $499,990 from the state’s Complete Streets Funding Program Awards for improvements at the intersection of Summer and Plymouth streets. (Photo Courtesy the Town of Bridgewater)

BRIDGEWATER — The Town of Bridgewater is pleased to announce that it has been awarded $499,990 in state grant funding for improvements at the intersection of Summer and Plymouth streets, building on the community’s work over the past 10 years to redevelop the area into a vibrant public space.

The administration of Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey announced a total of $6.6 million in funding through the state’s Complete Streets Funding Program, providing 15 communities with grants for infrastructure projects that will improve travel for pedestrians, public transit users and bicyclists.

The grant-funded project in Bridgewater will entail sharpening intersection corners to slow down turning vehicles, updating traffic signal timing, the creation of new crosswalks, and the construction of pedestrian curb ramps with detectable warning panels that are compliant with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

“The work accomplished with the help of the Complete Streets Funding Program grant will allow us to improve the pedestrian experience in and around the site,” said Bob Rulli, Bridgewater’s Director of Community & Economic Development. “That includes ADA-compliant sidewalks, improved pedestrian crossings and improved safety signalization. This work will also complement recently completed and anticipated future pedestrian improvements on the Bridgewater State University campus.”

“This is a wonderful grant as it provides for intersection and neighborhood improvements that will augment the ongoing and planned pedestrian and traffic improvements at the intersection of Routes 18, 28, and 104 around Central Square,” said Bridgewater Department of Public Works Director Azu Etoniru.

The town expects work associated with the Complete Streets Funding Program grant will be completed in 2027.

This work will build on Bridgewater’s ongoing initiatives at the intersection, including the revitalization of a former gas station property in the area, a vacant site that was acquired by the town several years ago.

In 2025, the Town of Bridgewater was awarded a $500,000 grant through the state’s Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC) Program to convert the gas station property for public use. The preliminary plans are to reduce the amount of impervious surface area on the site, improve stormwater management and create a public space.

Work funded through the PARC grant is expected to be complete later this year.

“This new Complete Streets Funding grant combined with the PARC grant and our ongoing collaboration with Bridgewater State University represents an amazing opportunity to create a truly transformative project,” said Director Rulli.
Future plans for the site also include improvements to the former gas station building.

Bridgewater Town Manager Justin Casanova-Davis expressed gratitude to the Healey administration for recognizing the importance of safe and accessible infrastructure to accommodate pedestrians, bicycle users, and transit riders of all ages and abilities.

“Thank you to our state partners for providing this important grant that will lead to much-needed improvements at this prominent intersection in the center of Bridgewater, building upon the Town’s previous efforts to transform this area into a vibrant public space that is accessible to all,” said Town Manager Casanova-Davis. “These improvements reflect our long-term commitment to thoughtful initiatives, improved traffic flow, enhanced pedestrian safety, and the revitalization of our downtown corridor. We look forward to continuing this collaborative work to ensure the intersection of Summer and Plymouth streets serves residents, students, and visitors safely and effectively for decades to come. We will look to build upon that work as we invest in our infrastructure, roadway, and pedestrian improvements in the downtown area of our community.”

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