After decades of conceptual ideas, Ashland's downtown renovation project kicked off in 2017 with a robust public planning process which included over 200 attendees at various forums and almost 1000 comments/questions/ideas on its Co-Urbanize page. Utilizing this input, the Town of Ashland contracted with BSC Group to complete both the 25% and 100% design submissions for changes to Main Street from Pine Hill Road to the intersection of Summer and Homer, as well as Front Street. The renovations are extensive and include practical and aesthetic changes such as enhanced drainage and traffic control, the burial of utility lines underground, new paving and sidewalks, decorative lighting, brick crosswalks, and the addition of street trees and vegetation into the natural landscape.
The goals of the project are to create a safer, more attractive downtown that becomes a destination for residents and visitors alike. As the town starts to invest more into downtown, we will see a corresponding private investment and upgrades on private property.
This $14 million project is scheduled to be completed by 2023. The first stage consisted of relining or replacing water mains in the downtown area. Currently, the town's contractor Gioioso and Sons are working to install the underground infrastructure necessary to move the utility lines underground. The second phase (in 2022) is to install utility equipment and do the surface infrastructure work. Finally, the existing above-ground poles will be removed.
The project is being funded with a combination of both local and state funds.
