READING, MA — Reading has been awarded a $500,000 state grant to advance plans to redesign Walkers Brook Drive, with improvements aimed at making the roadway safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
The funding comes through the state's HousingWorks Infrastructure Program and will support the ongoing Walkers Brook Drive Corridor Redesign Project.
The project calls for transforming the busy four-lane roadway into a corridor that better accommodates multiple forms of transportation while supporting future housing and mixed-use development.
The project is currently at 25% design completion. The grant will help bring plans closer to being ready for construction.
"This grant will help unlock the potential of the Walkers Brook corridor as a future economic engine for our community," Town Manager Jayne Wellman said in a statement. "By investing in the infrastructure today, we are creating the foundation for new housing, new economic development, and a vibrant mixed-use district that can serve Reading for generations."
The latest award follows a $500,000 MassWorks Infrastructure Grant that Reading received in 2024 for the same corridor.
The new funding was awarded through the fiscal 2027 round of the state's Community One Stop for Growth Program, which supports local housing, infrastructure and economic development projects.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Reading Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.