Royalston Road Reconstruction Plans On Track

Royalston Road Reconstruction Plans On Track
Officials hope for 2017 approval
Eryn Dion
News Staff Writer

TEMPLETON  Plans to reconstruct Royalston Road are beginning to take shape as Town Administrator Bob Markel recently presented the Board of Selectmen with an engineering proposal, including cost estimates and a working timeline.

According to Mr. Markel, engineering for the project will have a price tag of between $400,000 and $443,000, with the first phase running about $130,000. Prices for the next two faces will be negotiated, he said, with costs fluctuating depending on any challenges the engineering team faces during the survey process.

“There are state standards now,” he explained. “Roads have to have 11- to 12-foot lanes with a 5-foot right-of-way for bicycles. The road is not always that wide and that will affect cost.”

All told, Mr. Markel said reconstruction of the 2.5 miles of road will cost $4.5 million to $6 million to complete — well beyond the town’s budgetary means and Chapter 90 allowance.

“This is not a project that the town will be able to fund with our own money,” Mr. Markel said. “This is going to have to go on the Transportation Improve­ment Program, which is control­led by the Metropolitan Planning Organization.”

The MPO receives federal money, doling out amounts to cities and towns for large and expensive projects. The town has to cover engineering costs out-of-pocket before the plan can be submitted for consideration and be added to the TIP list, where it waits until funding becomes available.

News staff photo by ERYN DION A big reconstruction project is planned for Royalston Road in Templeton.

“Best-case scenario would be we get approval in fiscal 2017 for funding from the MPO for the money,” Mr. Markel said.

The engineering expenses will be paid out of the town’s Chapter 90 account, which currently holds about a half-million dollars.

Ideally, Mr. Markel said, selectmen would approve the agreement with the engineering firm at their next meeting, paving the way for work to begin as early as July.

“They’re ready to go,” the administrator said.

Highway Superintendent Bud Chase said he is satisfied with the engineering firm and its proposal and is eager to get the ball rolling.

“I’m excited to get this project going,” he said. “I don’t know how much longer that road can last.”