Town of North Andover Awarded $1,240,000 from Commonwealth's MassWorks Infrastructure Program
Yesterday, Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao and Housing & Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus announced $164 million for 338 grant awards to support local economic development projects in 161 communities across the state of Massachusetts. The awards were made through the Community One Stop for Growth, an application portal that provides a streamlined process for municipalities and organizations to apply for 13 state grant programs that fund economic development projects related to planning and zoning, site preparation, building construction, infrastructure, and housing development. The Town of North Andover was awarded one of these grants: $1,240,000 under the MassWorks Infrastructure Program to support improvements to the intersection of Route 125 (Osgood Street) and Great Pond Road.
Improvements to the Osgood/Great Pond Road intersection will include the realignment of the intersection to remove the existing right-turn slip lanes, replacement of the existing traffic signal and installation of accessible pedestrian signal equipment; construction of new wheelchair ramps and approximately 2,000 feet of sidewalk, drainage and utility modifications, stormwater infiltration, pavement marking and signing, and repaving. This project is being supported by $300,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding that was approved earlier this year for allocation by the Town's Select Board that will fund design and engineering of these improvements. That design work is currently underway.
“The Town of North Andover is grateful for the State's strong support of a critical infrastructure project that will improve access along one of the town's primary commercial corridors,” said Town Manager Melissa Murphy-Rodrigues. “The funded improvements will make it significantly safer for both drivers and pedestrians to move through this area. It will also provide the added benefit of connecting a broken link of sidewalk network on Osgood Street, as well as providing a new connection to a Town canoe launch on Lake Cochichewick.”
“Area residents and patrons of commercial businesses will appreciate being able to walk or travel by vehicle continuously down Route 125 in a safe manner, to be better connected to employment opportunities, to frequent other local businesses, and to gain improved recreational opportunities at Lake Cochichewick,” said Select Board Chair Laura Bates.
This grant award comes to the Town following prior investments by the State, totaling approximately $5 million for other infrastructure projects along Route 125, including the recently completed extension of sewer service.
