Braintree Hopes to Extend No-Dig Policy

In an effort to discourage utility companies from interfering with the town’s repaving program, the Braintree town counselors are hoping to extend a moratorium on digging into roads.

The Boston Globe reports that the town is hoping to extend the moratorium from five years to up to 10 years.

The request comes while Braintree is attempting to repair roads on a large scale. Mayor Joseph Sullivan told the Globe that about $6 million is being spent on road repairs each year and he aims to have more than 400 roads redone in a period of about 12 years.

The moratorium was placed to prevent utility companies from digging up roads while the town fixes them. Sullivan added that he is unsure what a longer moratorium can do since utility companies can contend that their work is an emergency.

“We are subject to the whims of the utility companies. It is frustrating as a municipal official to see a road that you just paved opened up,” Sullivan told the Globe.

National Grid spokesman Jake Navarro said that his company works with all communities to make sure that their work is coordinated with municipal work as best as possible.

The council will discuss the proposal at their meeting on Oct. 21.