Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito recently joined Transportation Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack, Acting Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver, and MassDOT officials at a construction project in Worcester to highlight over $193 million invested by the Baker-Polito Administration in Fiscal Year 2017 in 75 roadway and bridge projects benefiting 77 cities and towns throughout central Massachusetts.

In the coming weeks, the Baker-Polito Administration will be visiting MassDOT Highway Districts to highlight the positive regional impacts of over $2.8 billion spent since 2015 on highway construction projects and bridges, pavement, intersection and sidewalk improvements, and bike lanes, while authorizing over $700 million in Chapter 90 local transportation funding for cities and towns. An additional $30 million has been invested through Complete Streets and Municipal Small Bridge programming to support local transportation planning and community bridges not eligible for federal aid.

Statewide, those investments have paved approximately 2,000 lane miles, enough to cross Massachusetts and back at least 5 times; installed 160 miles of sidewalk, almost encircling the Quabbin Reservoir; and rehabilitated or replaced approximately 80 bridges. Projects include installing new safety equipment, optimizing traffic configuration, lane and intersection widening and promoting reduced congestion.

The event was held at the project to replace the bridge that carries Belmont Street (Route 9) over I-290 to ensure the structure can continue to safely and efficiently carry traffic. The $10.8 project will also upgrade pedestrian signal equipment, accessibility ramps, crosswalks, and create a bicycle accommodating shoulder on both sides of the bridge structure.