Reading In Line To Receive $593,065 For Road and Bridge Repairs

A release from the office of State Representative Bradley Jones:

Reading will receive $593,065 for local road and bridge repairs under the state’s Chapter 90 program, House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) and Representative James J. Dwyer (D-Woburn) announced this week.

The money was included in a $200 million bond authorization approved unanimously by the House of Representatives on April 5.

“This bond bill will provide Reading with additional financial resources to carry out critical transportation infrastructure improvements that will benefit local residents,” said Representative Jones.

“Providing funding for much needed improvements to our infrastructure allows municipalities to focus local budgets on vital services that taxpayers expect,” said Representative Dwyer. “I am proud that the House has taken this step to help our communities with this crucial investment.”

The state’s Chapter 90 program was established in 1973, and allocates funding on an annual basis to cities and towns using a formula based on the weighted average of a municipality’s population, employment, and total road miles. The funds are paid out as reimbursements to communities for qualifying infrastructure work.

Chapter 90 funds can be spent on a variety of municipal roadway projects, including resurfacing, drainage, sidewalks, guardrails, traffic control, right-of-way acquisition and street lighting. The funding can also be used for bikeways, landscaping and tree planting associated with certain projects, and for purchasing and maintaining certain road building machinery, equipment and tools.

The bond bill still requires Senate approval and Governor Charlie Baker’s signature before the funding can be released.