FITCHBURG — The city recently received a $450,000 MassWorks Design Grant for the upcoming Moran Square Improvement Project.
City administration were presented with the grant at the One Stop for Growth Awards held on Oct. 24, where Gov. Maura Healey, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, and other state officials announced $164 million in community grant funding.
According to a press release the grant will be used to fund the creation of the design work for the Moran Square project, which is in the preliminary stage. Moran Square is a heavily traveled intersection and gateway to downtown where Main Street, Summer Street, Lunenburg Street, Myrtle Avenue, and Sawyer Passway intersect.
The project is intended to reconfigure the intersection for safer vehicular and pedestrian use, upgrade sidewalks and crosswalks, and support the connection of the Twin Cities Rail Trail terminus with Main Street. The final phase of the construction project will include upgrading water and wastewater infrastructure, specifically the replacement of aged water line and sewer pipe relining to support the on-going growth of the area.
The $450,000 in grant funding will be combined with the fiscal 2024 state earmark of $125,000 received through Rep. Michael Kushmerek’s office to improve storm-water management, including potential green infrastructure as the intersection has experienced recent flooding during extreme rain events.
“This long overdue funding positions the city, in a future round of grants, to receive a MassWorks construction grant to implement this design,” said Mayor Stephen DiNatale. “With the increased development in downtown, and the significant flood events we continue to experience this project is desperately needed.”
For additional information contact Liz Murphy, Director of Community Development and Planning at 978-829-1897.
(Courtesy office of Fitchburg Community Development and Planning)