For Immediate Release

Friday, Jan. 26, 2018

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net

East Bridgewater Department of Public Works Awarded $497,000 Grant for Pond Street Bridge Project

EAST BRIDGEWATER — East Bridgewater Department of Public Works Director John B. Haines is pleased to announced that the Town of East Bridgewater was awarded a grant for $497,000 to replace an aging bridge on Pond Street.

The East Bridgewater DPW applied for the grant, which was awarded on Jan. 19 by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, as part of the state’s Municipal Small Bridge Program.

“I’m happy to say we were one of only a dozen communities that were selected to receive the grant,” Director Haines said. “This will cover the entire cost of replacing the small bridge on Pond Street that crosses the outlet to Robbins Pond.”

The bridge is located near 502 Pond St., between Sawmill Cove and Ousamequin Pines. The money will be used cover the cost of purchasing permits, hiring an engineer to create design plans and bidding and hiring a contractor to complete the project.

Currently there are two metal arches side-by-side that allow water to cross under the Pond Street bridge. The proposed plan is to replace those metal arches with two concrete boxes. Improvements to the road shoulders, water main and road will also be made.

Because plans are still in the preliminary stages, a timetable has not been set for when the project will begin.

In 2014, East Bridgewater had 17 bridges and culverts assessed by an engineering firm to determine the condition of each structure and rank them in order of priority for repair or replacement. Last year, the Town voted to fund maintenance work on three of the structures that were in most need of attention and that work has been completed.

In 2016, the state allocated $50 million over five years to help cities and towns repair small bridges that do not qualify for federal funding.

The East Bridgewater DPW applied for funding last year, but did not receive a grant. The application was renewed this year, and the grant was awarded to the Town.

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