Aging and failing infrastructure is an issue nationwide, but it is especially true for a state with widespread freeze-thaw cycles. Roads and bridges take a pounding every winter, and if small repairs are not addressed, they can worsen, causing flat tires and jeopardizing roadways.
“When we allow our infrastructure to deteriorate, we see traffic increase, productivity and quality of life go down and commuters face higher costs,” said U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., when she visited Framingham last month. “That’s why Congress and the Biden administration made it a priority to enact the new Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, the largest long-term investment in our infrastructure and economic competitiveness in nearly a century.”
Over the next five years, Massachusetts will receive $1.1 billion for bridge replacement and repair. The state Department of Transportation also recently relaunched the municipal small bridge program, a Baker-Polito initiative that has invested $50 million for improvements to bridges since 2017.
What this funding hopes to address is fairly urgent.
In November, the Cape Cod Times reported that more than 40% of bridges on the Cape are in need of repairs. Highway District 3, a region that includes MetroWest and Worcester, is host to more than 100 bridges that are structurally deficient, according to MassDOT data.
Cape Cod: 46% of the Cape's bridges need repairs: Here's what we know about the conditions and plans
A Pittsburgh bridge collapse also recently made headlines; fortunately, there were no fatalities, but a few inches of snow and a large bus put enough strain on the bridge to cause a critical failure in the structure.
President Joe Biden, who was scheduled to speak in Pittsburgh on the day of the collapse, could not have asked for a more perfect illustration of the need for the $27.5 billion earmarked for the bridge formula program.
In Massachusetts, the small bridges program is relaunching with $95 million in funding, which will be distributed over the next five years. In a statement, Gov. Charlie Baker said the program “will continue to support cities and towns in preserving and repairing smaller bridges within their communities.”
“This funding program has helped facilitate the development of small bridge projects across the commonwealth that, due to their size, would be deemed ineligible for federal funding,” said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, in a statement. “We are pleased to work with cities and towns to address their infrastructure needs and support local economies.”
Here are how some MetroWest bridges and culverts are currently faring, according to MassDOT data. "Structurally deficient" means the structures need repairs, although the urgency of those repairs can vary within the structurally deficient category.
Framingham bridges
Total bridges: 64
Structurally deficient: 2
Hudson bridges
Total bridges: 20
Structurally deficient: 3
Sudbury bridges
Total bridges: 12
Structurally deficient: 2
Marlborough bridges
Total bridges: 25
Structurally deficient: 0
Northborough bridges
Total bridges: 32
Structurally deficient: 2
Southborough bridges
Total bridges: 26
Structurally deficient: 0
Westborough bridges
Total bridges: 26
Structurally deficient: 2
Natick bridges
Total bridges: 31
Structurally deficient: 5
Milford bridges
Total bridges: 23
Structurally deficient: 1
Hopkinton bridges
Total bridges: 24
Structurally deficient: 6
Franklin bridges
Total bridges: 34
Structurally deficient: 0
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Original story HERE