Norwood selects sidewalk overlay as capital priority; DPW updates on multi-million-dollar road, water projects
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Summary
The Board of Selectmen endorsed placing a $2 million sidewalk-overlay proposal on the town’s capital outlay list and heard a Public Works update on several high‑cost projects, including a state-funded intersection upgrade (about $8 million), a water main cleaning/lining program and an upcoming water‑tank bid.
The Board of Selectmen on Feb. 25 endorsed submitting a sidewalk-overlay program to the town’s capital outlay process and heard detailed updates from the Department of Public Works about multiple ongoing and planned infrastructure projects.
The endorsement came after DPW Director Mark Ryan summarized a multi-year sidewalk plan and cost estimate. Ryan told the board the sidewalk effort would be “an additional $2,000,000” if done as a single project but could be phased over two to three years. The selectmen voted to “endorse the submission of sidewalk overlay program to the capital outlay” (motion carried 5‑0).
Ryan also reviewed large roadway and water projects. He said the Prospect Street–Dothlin Road–Washington Street intersection project is a state‑led job with roughly federal and state dollars and “close to $8,000,000.” He described the work as adding traffic signals, new sidewalks and road rebuilding and said the town holds biweekly meetings with the state and contractor. Ryan said a bid opening is set for March 27 for construction work on two new water tanks and that the bid package covers the construction of the tanks; he described the tanks as a planned water‑system improvement and said construction is expected to begin in summer.
On water distribution work, Ryan said the town largely finished the 2024 cleaning and lining program and that remaining water service work in the Fulton/Railroad Avenue neighborhood will be completed under a contract expected back in March. He noted the ongoing federally and state funded work improves water quality and fire flows.
Ryan also described the town’s inventory of water service materials, required by state and federal regulators after lead service line concerns nationally, saying the town met an October deadline to submit an initial inventory and will return to town meeting for funding to continue the work. He cautioned that many service materials remain “unknown” and that the inventory process will continue.
The board discussed several timing and safety items raised by residents and selectmen, including additional lighting near Jersey‑style barriers and maintenance of narrow walkways near a bridge on Moore Street used by transit riders; Ryan said DPW would add the walkway to its radar and examine lighting options near the barriers.
Why it matters: The sidewalk overlay endorsement signals town officials plan to treat pedestrian infrastructure as a capital priority; several major road and water projects described by DPW rely on state or federal funding and will shape construction and traffic patterns in Norwood for months to come.
The selectmen moved the sidewalk overlay proposal onto the capital outlay list and asked staff to return with scheduling details once capital‑outlay drafting resumes in April.