SAUGUS — Town Manager Scott Crabtree will partner with the Saugus Department of Public Works to develop a plan to improve roadway conditions on Westford Street.
The decision was made in response to a petition submitted to the Board of Selectmen Tuesday asking that a number of improvements be made to the highly-traveled street.
Created by resident Mark Sacco, the petition, which describes the street as a “misdesigned roadway” developed during the baby boomer era in an attempt to keep up with an increased demand for suburban housing close to Boston, requests that the town install a catch basin for storm drainage and repair the road’s uneven surfaces.
“Basically we’re just looking for an improvement of the road condition out here,” Sacco said.
The petition also states that the amount of debris in the roadway, as well as tripping hazards on both sides of the street, poses significant risks to travelers, and stormwater that seeps through the road’s surface could potentially impact underground infrastructure.
Selectman Jeff Cicolini, who made a motion to defer the petition to the town manager, said it was possible the cost of the plan could be built into the town’s future planning under its water and sewer enterprise accounts.
However, Crabtree said the street’s needed repairs are extensive.
“The DPW director has been out there and what I’m told is that there’s a lot more involved than repaving,” he said. “It’s a much bigger project than just repaving and we wouldn’t be able to repave unless we do something with the stormwater issues and drainage.”
Crabtree said he would provide a status update on the project in three months, which would give the town time to assess the situation and figure out a plan for improving the street.
“I think three months is enough time to get an idea of what the scope (of the project) is,” he said.
Elyse Carmosino can be reached at [email protected].
