Town Administrator Michael Mullen and the Board of Selectmen are pleased to announce that Rep. Jake Auchincloss has secured $2.75 million in federal funding for the Town of Dighton to replace the Pleasant Street Bridge over the Muddy Cove Inlet.
On Friday, Dec. 23, Congress passed a government funding bill that allocated $2,750,000 in Community Project Funding (CPF) championed by Rep. Auchincloss to the Town of Dighton for the replacement of the Pleasant Street Bridge over the Muddy Cove Inlet.
This funding follows a CPF request submitted in April 2022 by Town Administrator Mullen and Highway Superintendent Thomas Ferry to Rep. Auchincloss’s office. The CPF request was accompanied by letters of support from state Rep. Patricia Haddad, state Sen. Marc Pacheco, MassDOT District 5 Highway Director Mary-Joe Perry, the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic District and the Dighton Trails Committee.
“We’re excited to join Rep. Jake Auchincloss to announce $2.75 million in federal funding toward the replacement of the Pleasant Street Bridge at Muddy Cove,” said Town Administrator Mullen. “Small towns like Dighton rely on a strong partnership with our federal and state legislators to make infrastructure investments a reality. We’re pleased that a strong partnership between Rep. Auchincloss, state Rep. Haddad, Sen. Pacheco and town officials has helped to secure this critical infrastructure funding. This funding and the bridge replacement project along the wild and scenic Taunton River will have a tremendous impact on Dighton and surrounding communities. Thanks to Rep. Auchincloss, we are pleased that these efforts will continue forward.”
For the past several years, the Town of Dighton has sought to replace the Pleasant Street Bridge. The existing bridge is more than 100 years old, is weight posted for less than half the legal statutory weight load and has outlived its projected service life. In its current condition, the bridge hinders public safety, emergency response and public mobility due to its reduced load rating. The bridge was also listed as a vulnerability and area of concern in regard to coastal flooding in the Town’s combined Municipal Vulnerability Plan and Hazard Mitigation Plan and the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Plan Regional Addendum for Somerset, Dighton and Swansea.
The replacement of the bridge, installation of enhanced traffic and pedestrian safety elements and the realignment of the Pleasant Street intersection with Muddy Cove Lane will improve local and regional mobility, and improve public safety along the wild and scenic Taunton River.
Since June 2018, Dighton town officials and residents have supported approximately $450,000 to begin planning bridge upgrades and investments. Residents at the June 2018 Town Meeting approved $33,750 to fund an Alternatives Analysis for the bridge. Town Meeting members also supported $150,000 in funding in November 2021 to fund the initial (up to 25%) design and engineering for the project. At the most recent Special Town Meeting in November 2022, Town Meeting voters approved the appropriation of $267,800 for the final design, engineering and permitting for the bridge replacement.
The total current estimated project cost, pending final design, engineering and permitting, is projected to be approximately $3.3 million. Of the total cost, $2.75 million will be funded by the federal government.
“The Massachusetts Fourth is a powerhouse of talent and work ethic,” said Rep. Auchincloss. “These critical funds will make our communities cleaner, stronger, and safer. Investing in infrastructure and getting localities the funds they need to reach their full economic potential will help our District and Commonwealth reach the next level.”
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