Work Needed on Worcester Street?

Plans to pave Worcester Street from the Common to Route 122 raised questions from selectmen about how the town sets roadwork priorities.

 Town Engineer Brian Szczurko has requested $180,000 in state funding to do the work.

At the selectmen’s meeting Tuesday, July 19, board members questioned why that road was being done when others in town are in worse condition.

“I have a difficult time with this when others roads need it more,’’ selectman John Carlson. Most people who travel along this stretch of Worcester Street would consider the road in good shape, he said.

Town Administrator Timothy McInerney said the road is heavily used, so the work is being done to prolong its use. There are also drainage issues, he said.

He also said that the other roadwork needed in town would be more costly, and that the available Chapter 90 state funding for road projects would accommodate the requested $180,000.

McInerney said work could begin in September if selectmen approved the request soon. A delayed decision would move the work to the spring, he said.

Selectmen John Dowling said he would like to see a better-planned effort of determining road work projects.. “We should be able to jump right on it when the weather is ready,’’ he said.

Selectman Brook Padgett said he was willing to approve the project if Szczurko would appear at the next meeting Aug. 2, scheduled just before the Special Town Meeting, to explain why the work was requested.

Selectmen agreed with this proposal. This would still give them time to vote down the funding if they did not agree with Szczurko’s explanation, McInerney said.