Town Administrator Michael Blanchard and Director of Public Works Kevin McCabe are pleased to share that the Town of Dover recently secured a $500,000 grant from the state's Executive Office of Economic Development to replace a culvert on Dedham Street over Noanet Brook.
The $500,000 grant, announced by the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s Director of Rural Affairs Anne Gobi, draws from the state's Rural Development Fund, and it will be used to support the Dedham Street Culvert Replacement Construction Project.
Replacing the undersized culvert will help improve connectivity within a cold-water fishery, and it will also reduce flooding hazards on the road with a larger capacity for stormwater.
The award of the grant funds was contingent upon the town being able to certify compliance with Massachusetts General Laws and the MBTA Communities Act, as determined by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.
The announcement of the $500,000 grant came a day after Monday's successful vote at the Dover Special Town Meeting approving a Zoning Bylaw and Zoning Map Amendment. The vote authorized a zoning overlay district where multi-family housing is permitted as of right, which brought the Town into compliance with the MBTA Communities Act.
The Dedham Street Culvert Replacement Construction Project will be put out for bid in early 2026 and the town is targeting summer 2026 for construction, which will be completed in an estimated eight to 10 weeks.
Town Administrator Michael Blanchard and Director of Public Works Kevin McCabe thanked the Healey-Driscoll Administration for approving the grant, allowing the Town to move forward with a long-needed infrastructure improvement that will enhance safety and resiliency along Dedham Street.
“This culvert replacement is a critical project for our community,” said Director of Public Works Kevin McCabe. “The existing structure has long been in need of attention. The effort to replace it has been a lengthy, arduous process, including three consecutive fiscal year grant submissions from the Department of Public Works. Now, with this grant, we’ll be able to modernize the culvert to handle increased stormwater, reduce flooding risks, and provide safer travel for everyone who uses Dedham Street.”
“We’re very grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and to Director of Rural Affairs Anne Gobi for awarding us this funding from the Rural Development Fund,” said Town Administrator Blanchard. “This project is going to replace aging infrastructure, improve stormwater management, and help ensure that Dedham Street remains safe and passable for residents and emergency vehicles for years to come.”