Northborough – For nearly a year, a heavily traveled section of Otis Street, that connects Route 9 in Westborough to Route 20 in Northborough, had been closed after it was deemed unsafe.
Although the cause was actually an unsafe culvert as opposed to the actual bridge, the closure still caused significant inconvenience for many commuters and retailers.
Seeking a rapid fix, residents had asked the town to build a temporary bridge until the old culvert could be replaced, but officials determined that due to a number of factors, it would not be feasible or cost-effective.
At the April Town Meeting, voters approved $325,000 to build a new culvert. After receiving nine bids, town officials awarded the contract to a Quincy-based company, Kenefick Corp.
To relief of residents and commuters alike, the bridge was reopened on Aug. 31. The news was celebrated on Facebook where a status posting by the Northborough Police Department generated nearly 500 “likes” in just two days.
