After being denied funding through individual grant applications last year, Warwick and Northfield are submitting a joint application for a MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant of up to $1 million per town to cover reconstruction of the connecting Warwick Road in Northfield and Northfield Road in Warwick.
The continued push for the road’s reconstruction comes following the closure of the Warwick Community School. Parents have expressed safety concerns, as young Warwick students are expected to ride the bus along the winding, cracked stretches of Warwick Road/Northfield Road to attend Northfield Elementary School, when in-person classes return.
Warwick Town Coordinator David Young recently emailed residents asking for letters of support in advance of the grant application’s deadline. Young said the best argument in favor of the grant assistance is highlighting the need for improved safety of travel for members of the public and students, as that is the emphasis of the grant.
“This is our second try and this time we are making an application jointly with the town of Northfield,” Young wrote. “We are hoping that this concerted effort by two neighboring towns will be the ticket. We are in competition for one of six $1 million grants awarded annually.”
Northfield Selectboard members also signed a letter for their portion of the grant application. Northfield Town Administrator Andrea Llamas said Northfield will be the lead town on the application. Like Young, she said she had also collected letters of recommendation and support.
The joint application would showcase the regional significance of the project and frequent use of the road. With Warwick’s elementary-age students attending Northfield Elementary School, Llamas said there will be even more regular traffic along Warwick Road/Northfield Road.
Llamas said roadwork is expensive and “the rule of thumb” for such projects is to estimate costs at roughly $1 million per mile for paving. After factoring in costs for required drainage and culvert work, Llamas estimated just under 2 miles of road would be repaved.
“One of the things that was suggested to us was to put in a joint application for up to $2 million, because you can do $1 million for each side,” Llamas said. “We might not get it all, but we might get something.”
“This is what government is for,” Selectboard members Alex Meisner and Barbara “Bee” Jacque said together.
“Getting this stuff done,” Jacque added.
Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-930-4579.