Westborough opens part of BWALT trail

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Westborough opens part of BWALT trail
Christopher Egan, center, president of Carruth Capital, cuts the ribbons formally opening a portion of the BWALT trail along West Park Drive on Wednesday, Sept. 25. (Photo/Maureen Sullivan)

WESTBOROUGH – A new path along West Park Drive, off Flanders Road, marks the part of what will eventually be a 12-mile, multi-use trail.

On Wednesday, Sept. 25, local officials and sponsors gathered at a nearby office park to celebrate the completion of a portion of the Boston-Worcester Airline Trail (BWALT).

State Rep. Hannah Kane (R-Shrewsbury) praised the project, recalling a dirt trail behind her childhood home in Maine.

Walking that trail “helped turn off every piece of noise in your head,” said Kane.

She added that the value of trails rose during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“You cannot overlook the mental health benefits” of a trail system, she said.

Kane and state Rep. Kate Donaghue (D-Westborough) presented a State House citation to Christopher Egan, president of Carruth Capital Inc., one of the project’s major sponsors.

“I’m proud to be part of the BWALT project,” said Egan.

The trail was constructed with help from the state’s Department of Transportation, MassWorks, MassTrails and the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Committee.

Westborough opens part of BWALT trail
Part of the new BWALT trail along West Park Drive includes a new bridge. (Photo/Maureen Sullivan)

What’s next?

Portions of the BWALT are in various stages of study and/or development.

On Wednesday, Sept. 11, the Planning Department held an informational meeting related to Section 2 of the trail.

The section begins at Otis Street and ends at Park Street – a distance of 1.67 miles.

Preliminary plans would include the installation of sidewalks; a staging area for bicyclists; crosswalks; and construction of two boardwalks across the Assabet River.

The trail, which would be asphalt pavement, would go close to Sassacus Drive, the wastewater treatment plant pump station and facilities, and on to Meadow Road. Path users would then go down Meadow, cross Milk Street, and eventually parallel Turnpike Road to Park Street.

During the question-and-answer period, several residents of Meadow Road said they were concerned about the influx of pedestrians and cyclists along their street.

Darlene Domingos, administrator for the wastewater treatment plant, said the proposed trail along the plant should be moved in case the plant wants to expand.

For more information on this part of the BWALT trail, or the project in general, visit https://www.westboroughma.gov/1289/Public-Info-Meetings

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