WESTBOROUGH, MA — The town has been awarded an additional $27,000 in state funding for the ongoing Jackstraw Brook Culvert Replacement Project, Town Manager Kristi Williams said in a report to the Select Board on Apr. 28.
The funding comes from the state’s Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) and brings the total awarded to the project to more than $160,000, including a prior $135,500 grant.
Williams said the additional funding was likely reallocated from other projects that did not fully use their awards, and noted that DER has been “very supportive” of the Westborough project.
The earlier $135,500 grant was awarded through the state’s Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance program to support design and engineering work tied to the project, according to the town.
The Jackstraw Brook project focuses on replacing undersized culverts and restoring the natural flow of the brook in the area of Morse Street, Upton Road and Route 135.
Plans include replacing multiple culverts and potentially realigning sections of the stream to improve water flow and ecological conditions, according to state filings.
The work aims to address long-standing flooding issues in the area, where roads such as Morse Street frequently overtop during major storm events. In addition to reducing flood risk, the project is designed to improve wildlife passage and restore habitat along Jackstraw Brook, which is classified as a coldwater fishery and lies within an environmentally sensitive area, the state says.
The broader effort also includes upgrades to water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure associated with the culvert replacements, according to town project information.
Construction on the project is expected to be completed by May 2026, according to town officials.
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