OVERVIEW-

The Town of Dalton won a million-dollar grant through the state’s MassWorks program for repaving Orchard Road, along with doing additional drainage work to keep the road in good condition.

Residents have been calling for repairs for years, and this project is expected to address all their concerns.

“This is great news for Dalton, and yet another example of great work from our DPW Superintendent Bud Hall,” said Select Board Chair Joseph Diver. “Smaller towns like Dalton do not have the means to keep all our roads in good condition, so we appreciate the support from the Commonwealth for our major projects.”

Bud Hall, Superintendent of the Department of Public Works, said, “This is one of the worst roads in town and also one of the most heavily used. We’ve been trying to deal with the drainage for years—it’s at a low point and collects rainwater from a large area, and the outlets are not big enough to handle major storms, so water backs up and can form ice in the winter, damaging the road. This is the second year we applied for this grant. When we got some feedback from the state last year, we were able to submit a project that met their requirements.”

Hall expects construction to start in the Spring/early Summer of 2025 and, without delays, to be completed in the 2025 construction season (revised from 2024 after easement requirements were identified and had to be resolved).

CURRENT STATUS-

February 12

There has been a question about the placement of the proposed sidewalk. According to the project engineer, the sidewalk must be constructed on the east (field) side of the road for at least 200’ starting at Rt. 9. Otherwise, it would involve cutting trees, moving poles, and building retaining walls. After that, since the sidewalk starts on the east side, it makes sense to continue it along the east side at least to Pease Avenue. Similarly, south of Pease Avenue and continuing south of the river, existing conditions make sidewalk construction on the west side preferable.

February 11

Here is the Notice of Intent the engineers (SK Design Group, Inc.) filed with the Town’s Conservation Commission. This describes the project in relation to rivers and wetlands.

January 28, 2025 update from the Town Manager:

The project is designed and has been sent to the Central Register, the State’s COMMBUYS website, and the Berkshire Eagle as required by law. In addition, paper copies will be available for prospective bidders at the Town Hall. The bid opens February 6, with a deadline of 1 p.m., February 27. See the bid documents here and the bid drawings here.

August 13, 2024 update from the Town Manager:
The state contract was executed January 24. We hired a designer, and I received an e-mail on February 22 informing me that easements would be necessary before going out to bid. I found the name of a recommended appraiser and wrote them the next day for quotes (for both Orchard Road and the L.P. Adams easement, whose lawyer has been after me) and they replied they would get me quotes. I got the money for the quotes from the Select Board from ARPA funds and hired the appraiser. We got preliminary plans and figures and brought the items to Town Meeting. I have been moving the process forward since then and we now have final plans and costs, and I received the Orders of Taking from Town Counsel yesterday for singing by the Select Board August 19. I will be filing the final plans with the Registry of Deeds when I get the checks next week.