HUDSON – The Brigham Street culvert is one step closer to being repaired.
During a Select Board meeting on Dec. 5, the board unanimously approved the allocation of $110,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to pay for engineering services from the consulting firm Woodard & Curran to repair the culvert.
“Making these critical repairs is not only necessary for environmental reasons, but it also ensures that Hudson remains compliant with the mandated permit issued by the federal Environmental Protection Agency,” Executive Assistant Thomas Gregory said.
Gregory said it will be “essential” for voters to adopt the Stormwater Utility Bylaw during the next town meeting because it will allow the Select Board to implement a stormwater utility fee to specifically address this kind of project.
During Town Meeting in November, voters passed over an article that would have amended the town’s General Bylaws to add a “Stormwater Utility Section.”
The existing culvert on Brigham Street failed and, in November, two 24-inch corrugated HDPE pipes were installed to provide temporary transportation.
Approximately 22 inches tall and 36 inches wide, the existing culvert is made of concrete and is supported by concrete sides and stone abutments.
Woodard & Curran are planning to organize the project into five stages – site reconnaissance and resource delineation, geotechnical evaluation, property and topographic survey, hydrologic/hydraulic study and recommended replacement type and feasibility study.
The ARPA funds will cover the project, with the bulk of the ARPA funds being allocated to the recommended replacement type and feasibility study, which will cost $35,000 according to the project proposal.
Woodard & Curran said the feasibility study will include lists of additional engineering studies and permits needed to repair the culvert.
The repair will be complete within five months, according to Woodard & Curran.
