SOUTHWICK — To gather data to prepare for the possibility of the Select Board asking Town Meeting to borrow $20 million to repair the town’s roads, the town is partnering with BETA Group to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the town’s roads.
“I think this will get the DPW the tools to move forward,” said Select Board member Russ Anderson about the assessment.
And to let residents know that for the next week of so, there will be a silver SUV travelling down every street and road in town to conduct the assessment.
BETA Group is a trusted New England engineering firm specializing in pavement management. It has been providing assessments for over a decade for the town, but this year the board decided it wanted a more comprehensive assessment.
Southwick has over 70 miles of roadways, many of which are in need of resurfacing, he said.
The Select Board identified the importance of ensuring that every dollar spent on road maintenance and paving is used effectively and strategically, Anderson said.
This independent, data-driven evaluation will provide an objective look at current roadway conditions by leveraging advanced imaging technology, BETA’s analysis will help Southwick prioritize projects based on condition, traffic use, and long-term impact.
The firm’s expertise also allows for recommendations on a variety of surface treatments and preservation methods helping extend road life through proactive maintenance and cost-effective solutions.
“This process gives us the tools to make informed, transparent decisions that protect our infrastructure and make the best use of taxpayer funds,” according to Anderson’s announcement.
Every year, the Select Board must choose road repair projects using the money from Chapter 90, the surtax on millionaires known as the Fair Share Amendment, Town Meeting-approved borrowing, and any remaining funds left over from previous years.
For 2026 the board has at its disposal a total of $2.58 million, which is comprised of $1 million appropriated at Town Meeting, $171,836 from a state surtax on incomes over $1 million, also known as the Fair Share Amendment, $122,255 in state Rural Roadway funding, $614,905 in Chapter 90 funds, and $167,000 in leftover Chapter 90 funds.
In July, the board approved Phase 2 of the Ed Holcombe Road project for $490,000, Phase 3 of the Gargon Terrace project for $420,000, $95,000 to repair erosion on South Longyard Road, $80,000 for crack sealing, setting aside $25,000 to match a Rural Development Grant to have Powder Mill Road repaired, $30,000 for drainage repair on Granville Road, and spending $15,000 to match a grant for culvert design.
But those projects were only a fraction of the projects already identified, and includes paving and drainage projects on Matthews Road ($410,000); Partridge Lane ($130,000); Pineywood Road ($430,000); Point Grove Road ($870,000); Powder Mill Road ($1,860,000); Reservoir Road ($210,000); Rising Corner Road ($250,000); Sam West Road ($1,110,000); Sheep Pasture Road (($1,100,000); Vining Hill Road ($1,140,000); Thurgood Road ($130,000); and Woodside Circle ($630,000).
Also listed were five sidewalk replacement projects: Falmouth Road neighborhood ($310,000); Granville Road, Evergreen Terrace to Bugbee Road ($180,000); Vining Hill Road ($250,000); and Powder Mill Road ($250,000).
There are plans to repair Fernwood for an estimated $520,000, Meadow Lane for an estimated $420,000, and Vining Hill Road for $1.14 million.
Those projects add up to roughly $22.8 million.
