Boston Road Reconstruction Project

The Town of Westford in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and our regional planners at the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments (NMCOG), has undertaken the most significant infrastructure improvement project in the history of the Town, since the construction of Interstate 495. This $12.1 Million construction project is being funded by the State's Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), with approximately $1.2 Million in municipal funding for the design, land acquisitions and other miscellaneous costs. The successful bidder on this project is the Newport Construction Corporation from Nashua, NH.

BOSTON ROAD DETOUR UPDATE

Effective Monday, December 1st, the Boston Road detour will end for the season and will resume again sometime in April 2026. Construction activities will continue Monday – Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM, during which time Boston Road will be reduced to a single lane of alternating traffic as needed. Work will continue until weather conditions are no longer suitable for construction. The temporary traffic signals at the intersections of Main Street with Depot Street and Tadmuck Road will remain fully operational throughout the winter and for the full duration of the Boston Road Reconstruction Project.

 Please be aware that the 25 MPH speed limit on Boston Road will be strictly enforced. Expect delays, reduce speeds, and use caution when traveling within the construction zone.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE - JULY 2025

New utility poles have been installed, and utility companies are currently relocating their wires to the new pole locations.  Installation of the storm drainage system has begun. The new system will include 66 storm drain inlets (aka catch basins), 41 drainage manholes, and more than 6,400 feet of drain pipe ranging in size from 10-inch to 36-inch diameter. This work has started just north of Route 495 and will continue north on Boston Road up to the Town Center. The majority of the 2025 construction season (May through November) will focus on completing the new storm drainage system. 

Storm drainage improvImage of Excavator and Drain PipeemenImage of Storm Drain Structurests are a critical component of roadway reconstruction because they help manage surface water runoff, reduce the risk of flooding, and protect the integrity of the roadbed over time. Proper drainage systems extend the lifespan of new pavement, enhance safety for drivers and pedestrians, and prevent damage to nearby properties and natural areas by directing water away from travel lanes and into designated systems. While it may not be visible on the surface, this work is complex—it involves careful design, deep excavation, fitting large underground pipes, and coordinating with other utilities, all of which must be done precisely to make sure the roadway stays safe for years to come.

Roadway reconstruction activities are anticipated to be substantially completed in late 2026/early 2027 barring no unforeseen conditions, significantly impactful weather or supply chain shortages or other extraneous circumstances that may cause a delay. We appreciate your patience while construction activities are underway.

Typical construction hours for the project are Monday through Friday between 7:00 AM and 4:30 PM. 

STAY CONNECTED

Stay up to date on the progress of the work; register for email and/or text updates through the Town of Westford's Notify Me -  Alert Center for “ROAD CONSTRUCTION” . The Department of Public Works  also offers a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WestfordPublicWorks where periodic construction updates will be posted.  Please note that heavy construction projects like the Boston Road Reconstruction Project are subject to weather conditions, material supplies, equipment maintenance and workforce fluctuations, so project schedules are frequently subject to change.  Your patience through this complicated process is greatly appreciated.   

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact Town Engineer Paul Starratt, P.E., at pstarratt@westfordma.gov or call (978) 399-2716.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The proposed improvements include a new water main, updated stormwater management system, reconstruction of the roadway, new traffic calming medians, a new sidewalk the full length of the project, and bike lanes.  

During the early design stages of the project, the design team realized that it would be necessary to remove some trees and landscaping.  We also noted the numerous tree concerns of residents during our extensive public feedback process.  Consequently, the Engineering Department went to Annual Town Meeting on March 25, 2023 and secured non-participating funds (Article 5) to include items like trees and landscaping.  

MassDOT is funding $12M for the construction phase of this project, but they do not “participate” financially with items like landscaping or drinking water utilities because it is not a part of their transportation mission.  But now that we have “non-participating” monies from Town Meeting, we can work with residents and Town leadership when the project is nearing completion to strategically locate new trees and landscaping to fit the character of Boston Road. Our goal is not only to provide multiple modes of transportation options, with vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle accommodations, but we also want the finish product to be aesthetically pleasing and representative of how Westford residents envision their rural community.  

Another important project goal is to greatly improve the stormwater management practices on Boston Road, which are practically non-existent today.  When the project is complete, all the rain and melting snow will pass through deep sump catch basins, with built-in oil separator traps, that will discharge into detention basins before entering our natural resource areas.

Why is the road bumpy and uneven?  Will it be fixed?

Construction activities that include trenches for storm drain and water utility pipes will often produce a bumpy or uneven road surface.  On the Boston Road Reconstruction Project, the Contractor is installing temporary asphalt patches at the end of each day in order to avoid open or gravel trenches that spread dust and debris throughout the job site.  This is a temporary condition and a new road surface will be permanently installed when the buried utility work is complete.  Please note that speed limits are greatly reduce throughout the construction site, even when workers are not present.  

Why are some of the trees on Boston Road covered with wood?

The wood boards attached to various trees along Boston Road are part of MassDOT's efforts to protect certain trees during construction.  We are aware of the environmental and aesthetic value of trees along this important corridor and everything possible has been done to minimize the number of trees that need to be removed in order to complete the project.  Some of the trees that do not need to be removed, but are still in close proximity to the work, have been scheduled for protection and covered with boards.  The boards also serve as a visual reminder to the Contractor to stay away from specific trees.  It is important to note that Westford Town Meeting has appropriated funds to restore landscape features and replace trees that had to be removed.

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Project Information

  1. Boston Road Reconstruction Plans
  2. Boston Road - Notice of Intent Plans
  3. Boston Road Order of Conditions
  4. Public Hearing Handout - Boston Road
  5. Boston Road Detour Map
  6. Abutter Update - Boston Road 1-21-2025