Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Town of Ashburnham $375K for Culvert Replacement Training Initiative

ASHBURNHAM — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today the award of $384,400 for a culvert replacement project in the Town of Ashburnham through the Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) Stream Continuity Program. This project will also help build capacity for culvert replacements statewide through DER’s Culvert Replacement Training Site Initiative.  

“There are about 25,000 culverts in Massachusetts, many of which are undersized and deteriorating. This culvert replacement project will restore habitat for fish and wildlife and improve climate resilience for the Town of Ashburnham. In addition, the project will serve as a case study to help train other municipalities to carry out this important work,” said DER Director Beth Lambert. 

DER’s Stream Continuity Program works to help cities and towns replace outdated culverts with new, improved crossings. The Culvert Replacement Training Site Initiative aims to create a network of road managers with advanced experience implementing culvert replacements that meet the Massachusetts Stream Crossing Standards. Through project sites that serve as case studies, local road managers receive comprehensive training on how to assess, plan, and carry out these important resilience projects statewide.

This award to the Town of Ashburnham will support the construction process to replace a degraded and undersized culvert on East Rindge Road over Bluefield Brook. The crossing currently acts as a barrier for fish and wildlife passage and has the potential to cause flooding in extreme weather. The culvert will be replaced with a properly-sized structure that meets the Massachusetts Stream Crossing Standards. The Town will also host several trainings led by DER to teach local roadway managers about culvert replacements in Massachusetts including lessons learned from this and other projects. DER held a training in Ashburnham last year that included over 20 attendees. 

“This funding advances the Town of Ashburnham’s efforts to replace a corroded and flood-prone culvert that is a barrier to fish and wildlife passage,” said DER Stream Continuity Program Manager Holden Sparacino. “Replacing the culvert will reconnect two priority habitat areas, including Ashburnham State Forest, and reduce flooding risk. In addition, DER will partner with the Town to hold multiple on-site trainings for local road managers to learn about the design, permitting, and funding pathways for similar projects.”

"I am grateful to the Division of Ecological Restoration for selecting Ashburnham to receive grant funding to assist with a culvert replacement," said State Senator Jo Comerford (D-Northampton). "Culvert maintenance is absolutely key to climate resilience. This funding will go a long way to support Ashburnham's critical project on East Rindge Road." 

“I’m thrilled to see this important infrastructure grant awarded to Ashburnham. These projects are extremely important to rural communities throughout the Commonwealth, such as Ashburnham, in building resilient and effective infrastructure that aligns with current standards and helps to maintain the present ecosystems,” said State Representative Jonathan Zlotnik (D-2nd Worcester). 

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