SHELBURNE — The first of two road projects discussed at the June 1 Selectboard meeting is set to start at the end of July and finish near Thanksgiving.
The bridge on Shelburne Center Road over Dragon Brook is the first to be repaired, with work beginning the week of July 27 and wrapping up the week of Nov. 23. This project is funded through the state Department of Transportation’s Municipal Small Bridge Program. The total cost is $382,000 and the contract will be executed by Western Earthworks.
John Taylor, chief of the Shelburne Fire Department, asked if through traffic would be allowed over the bridge while the work takes place. Highway Superintendent Jeff Johnston said the work will necessitate the full closure of the bridge, and that notices would be distributed to emergency services agencies and citizens ahead of time to inform them.
During the project, Western Earthworks will “have to do some erosion control,” according to Johnston. This project has another goal of striving “to enhance and retain the beauty of Shelburne,” according to the project notice.
The second road project that was discussed with the Selectboard involves improvements to 1.7 miles of South Shelburne Road, which Johnston said will be beneficial to everyone as “it’s a pretty rough road.” There hasn’t been any action on the project yet, with Johnston noting that the town is in the process of applying for a $1 million grant through the MassWorks Infrastructure Program.
“This hearing is just letting everyone know that we are applying for a MassWorks grant,” Johnston explained.
Peter Stevens, a resident of Shelburne, asked about the project timeline. Johnston said that once the town secures grant money and the project has been approved, the plan is to break ground in early 2027 and the work would take about three months to complete.
This roadwork will include the replacement of 10 to 12 culverts, along with erosion control and bank support, a practice used to stabilize sloped earth to prevent erosion. During the project, the existing asphalt will be ground up and then “pounded back down,” according to Johnston. After the replacement, a calcium chloride mixture will be sprayed on the road to tighten its subbase and prevent it from loosening. Four inches of asphalt will then be laid down — 2 inches as a base coat and 2 inches as a top base.
When asked by Taylor if the culvert replacements will be on a “as-you-go basis,” Johnston replied that it would depend on the condition that the culverts are in, saying that if they are still in good condition, he’d “rather not touch them.”
The grant application was submitted on May 28.
“It took a long time,” Johnston said of the application process. “We finally got everything together last Thursday and submitted, so now it’s just a waiting game.”
Selectboard reorganization
Also during this meeting, the Selectboard reorganized. Rick LaPierre, who has most recently served as chair, will now be the clerk, while Rodney McBride will become vice chair and Andrew Baker is the new chair. These changes take effect on July 1.
