Officials break ground on $15 million Boston Road project in Westford

WESTFORD — Congresswoman Lori Trahan joined Massachusetts Department of Transportation and Westford officials in her hometown Monday for a groundbreaking ceremony for a $15.6 million multimodal rehabilitation project for the stretch of Boston Road between Interstate 495 and Main Street.

The project covers the 1.05-mile stretch between the tip of the I-495 southbound offramp to Westford’s Town Center, with a goal of improving road safety along the route and making it more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. It will include a 5-foot bike lane with 11-foot travel lanes in each direction.

Inside the Westford Museum, which sits at the Town Center on one end of the project, Trahan said the project is partially funded with $12 million from the Infrastructure Safety and Jobs Act passed in 2021.

“Which is helping transform towns like Westford which have long been left to fend for themselves,” said Trahan. “This law has delivered billions of dollars in federal funding to the commonwealth to end the cycle of deferred maintenance of our state’s aging infrastructure.”

Trahan addressed the Trump administration’s freezing of federal funding earlier in his still-young term, noting these funds were approved by members of both parties in the House and Senate and have been appropriated to projects in blue and red districts across the country.

“This project, among so many, is going to make Boston Road safer, for drivers, for cyclists, for pedestrians. It will help parents get their kids to school on time and themselves to work without the congestion,” said Trahan. “Outcomes like this, where people’s lives are made better, even if it is just 10 or 15 minutes less in the car each day, is exactly why my vote for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is the easiest one I have had to cast.”

Rehabilitating Boston Road, Massachusetts Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt said, will “strengthen the heart of Westford’s Town Center” by making it easier for people to navigate.

“It will protect our environment as well, with better green spaces, stronger stormwater infrastructure and a design that aligns with our statewide vision for a resilient and sustainable future,” said Tibbits-Nutt.

In a statement Monday, state Sen. John Cronin said, “The rehabilitation of Boston Road makes Westford roads safer.”

“This project is a great example of the collaboration between Westford’s local, state and federal partners to deliver for residents. I’m thankful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Rep. Trahan for their commitment to Westford and the entire region,” said Cronin.

Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver urged patience for drivers as this project moves forward.

“Projects like this are not necessarily easy to pull off. It is going to be rough, you can’t get these projects done without making some disruption in town,” said Gulliver. “We are asking you right up front for your cooperation and understanding as this gets done.”

Westford Town Manager Kristen Las said the project would include work on the water infrastructure running down the route.

“Our water department and our water commissioners have worked tirelessly to allow for the design of a new water main in the area for increased efficiency and predictability,” said Las. “We also are making this a state-of-the-art stormwater design for environmental sustainability.”

In a statement, state Rep. James Arciero thanked the many parties that brought this project together.

“Boston Road is a highly traveled thoroughfare both to and from the center of the town. These improvements will address increasing vehicle activity both for public safety purposes and for the residents that live near or on Boston Road that are often impacted by the heavy traffic flow,” said Arciero.

The project is expected to be completed by the summer of 2027. Federal funding comprises 80% of the project, with the other 20% being state funding along with a municipal funding agreement.