North Reading Awarded $100,000 Municipal Small Bridge Program Grant

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading), Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) and Town Administrator Michael P. Gilleberto are pleased to announce that North Reading has been awarded $100,000 in state funding assistance through the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s (MassDOT) Municipal Small Bridge Program.

North Reading was one of 53 communities to receive funding in the most recent round of awards. The town will use the money for the rehabilitation of the Park Street bridge over Martins Brook, which serves as a critical connective link to Route 62, Route 28 and various points in the southwest section of town.

MassDOT evaluates requests for Municipal Small Bridge Program funding based on the condition, benefits and repair status of each bridge, taking into consideration projects that demonstrate a critical need or will substantially extend the life of an existing small bridge. According to MassDOT’s February 24, 2021 Inspection Report, the Park Street bridge’s deck, superstructure and substructure are rated as a 4, 5 and 7, respectively.

“This money will help North Reading cover the design costs associated with correcting the significant structural deficiencies that currently exist along the Park Street bridge,” said Representative Jones. “This project is critical to ensuring the continued safety of the thousands of drivers who use this bridge on a daily basis.”

“The Park Street Bridge is a critical piece of transportation infrastructure that deserves the kind of state partnership represented by this grant,” said Senator Tarr. “Thanks to the leadership of town officials, motorists will soon be able to drive every day over a modern, efficient, and, most importantly, safe, bridge over Martins Brook.”

“This is another example of our ongoing partnership with the Commonwealth to address North Reading’s needs,” said Gilleberto. “This funding, when combined with $100,000 approved by voters at June Town Meeting, will allow us to design a much needed replacement for a 109-year-old bridge. Temporary repairs made in 2021 allowed the bridge to remain open, and we will be seeking construction funds next year.”

Created in 2016 by the Baker-Polito Administration, the Municipal Small Bridge Program is targeted specifically for the preservation, rehabilitation and replacement of bridges with a span of between 10 and 20 feet, which are often not eligible for federal aid. The program provides funding to municipalities to help offset design and construction costs, with design grants capped annually at $100,000 per community and construction grants capped at $500,000 per community.

The program was initially funded at $50 million and was reauthorized for another $95 million over five years as part of the 2021 Transportation Bond Bill. Since 2016, the program has awarded 173 municipal grants totaling approximately $61.6 million.

For more information on the Municipal Small Bridge Program, please visit https://www.mass.gov/municipal-small-bridge-program.