MIDDLEBORO – The town is taking the first step to contribute significant funding for roadway and pavement improvements.

The Select Board voted to appropriate 1.6 million in ARPA funding during the meeting on Monday, Nov. 14. In addition to the 1.6 million, the town will also utilize $874,000 in chapter 90 funding towards road improvement for the 165 miles of roadway. 

The Select Board also discussed the possibility of finding more funding for these projects in the future. 

Anthony Garro of The BETA Group, the organization collecting data on the roadways, said that the estimated yearly cost for maintaining roads is 3.5 million.

“Although the 1.6 million is a drop in the bucket, it is way more money than the town has ever put towards roads in the last two decades,” said Town Manager James McGrail. “Doing it is going to move the needle a bit here.” 

Select Board member Brian Giovanni added that he doesn’t think the town has provided funding outside of Chapter 90 funding “for more than 20 years.”  

Garro said that the overall score of the towns roadway conditions was 64, which aligns with scores of towns nearby. 

According to DPW Director Chris Peck, the town is currently in the process of determining which roads should be prioritized. 

“This is a good first step,” said Peck.