Fix For Chronic Flooding In Worcester Along Route 20 Gets Federal Cash

WORCESTER, MA — A busy section of Route 20 in Worcester with a chronic flooding problem may finally get some relief with a new infusion of federal cash.

The U.S. Department of Transportation this week awarded $3.7 million to a project that will upgrade plumbing under the roadway that dates to the 1930s.

"Through this project, a dedicated trunk line and numerous new drainage inlets will be installed, including improvements to existing drainage infrastructure. These improvements will increase the ability of the low-lying area to drain during storm events, greatly reducing flooding frequency and duration," state officials said in a news release. "A stilling basin will also be added at the outfall location, which includes both existing and proposed outfalls, to reduce the potential for soil erosion at the outfall."

The flood-prone section of Route 20/Southwest Cutoff dives under an overpass that carries Grafton Street/Route 122 between Worcester and Grafton. The Route 20 portion was the site of a flash flood in 2021, requiring several people to be pulled from cars that were almost fully submerged. The flooding has been a safety concern and headache for drivers in Worcester, Shrewsbury and Grafton for years.

On top of the federal funds, MassDOT has been working on a design to fix flooding since 2018, which has cost close to $800,000 so far. State officials did not announce a start date for the project.