Press Release: 7/22/2026
MassDOT Announces $11.26 Million to Improve Local Unpaved Roads Across Massachusetts
The funding program includes 48 grants statewide in this round
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
7/21/2026
HATFIELD — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (DOT) today announced $11.26 million in Unpaved Roads Program grants to help cities and towns maintain, repair, and improve locally owned dirt and gravel roads across Massachusetts. The inaugural round of funding includes grants to 48 communities that will support safer travel, strengthen local infrastructure and improve access for residents, businesses and emergency responders.
Launched in 2025, the Unpaved Roads Grant Program supports the maintenance and improvement of locally owned dirt and gravel roads across Massachusetts. The inaugural announcement, made in Hatfield, includes 48 grants, including two design grants, 32 equipment grants, and 14 construction grants. The awards also include 18 additional grants made possible by $3.75 million included in the Fiscal Year 2026 Fair Share supplemental budget. That additional funding allowed MassDOT to expand this inaugural round of awards and support more local road improvement projects across Massachusetts.
The program gives municipalities flexibility to invest in equipment, design or construction projects based on local needs. These investments will improve road conditions, enhance drainage, increase reliability and strengthen access for residents, businesses and emergency responders.
"Every community deserves safe, reliable roads that people can count on to get to work, school and home,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These grants will help cities and towns make important improvements to local roads that residents, businesses and emergency responders use every day. We're proud to partner with municipalities across Massachusetts to make these investments that strengthen infrastructure, improve safety and support local communities."
"For many communities, unpaved roads are an important part of the local transportation network,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “These investments will help cities and towns improve safety, reliability and resilience while giving local officials the flexibility to address the needs that matter most in their communities."
“The Healey-Driscoll Administration continues to deliver for our residents, businesses, cities and towns with Fair Share funds to support municipalities under the Unpaved Roads Program. These grants help communities address important local transportation needs that have a direct impact, improving everyday travel, safety, and quality of life for the public,” said Interim Transportation Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng. “By supporting the maintenance, repair, and improvement of dirt and gravel roads, MassDOT is helping municipalities strengthen local infrastructure and improve reliability with targeted investments that serve residents and businesses across Massachusetts.”
“Nearly 2,500 miles of locally owned roads across the Commonwealth are dirt or gravel, reflecting the unique needs and character of the communities they serve,” said Undersecretary of Transportation and State Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. “Until the launch of the new Unpaved Roads Grant Program, municipalities had no dedicated resource to maintain this critical infrastructure. This program recognizes that one size doesn't fit all and provides targeted support for communities working to preserve and improve their unpaved road networks.”
The Unpaved Roads Program is administered through MassDOT’s Grant Central portal, a streamlined platform that manages MassDOT Highway Division’s eight municipal grant programs: the Chapter 90 Program, Complete Streets Funding Program, Shared Streets and Spaces Program, Municipal Pavement Program, Municipal Small Bridge Program, Local Bottleneck Reduction Program, Community Culverts Program, and Unpaved Roads Program.
A full list of Unpaved Roads Program recipients is below.
| Municipality | Project Phase | Award Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BARRE | Construction | $500,000.00 |
| BERNARDSTON | Construction | $170,640.00 |
| CHARLEMONT | Construction | $113,970.95 |
| GOSHEN | Construction | $555,610.00 |
| HATFIELD | Construction | $670,440.00 |
| HOLLAND | Construction | $200,000.00 |
| MONTEREY | Construction | $250,000.00 |
| NEW BRAINTREE | Construction | $104,293.20 |
| ORANGE | Construction | $821,150.00 |
| PHILLIPSTON | Construction | $120,000.00 |
| PLYMPTON | Construction | $189,750.00 |
| ROYALSTON | Construction | $162,300.00 |
| SANDISFIELD | Construction | $250,000.00 |
| WESTFORD | Construction | $195,000.00 |
| RICHMOND | Design | $150,000.00 |
| TOLLAND | Design | $150,000.00 |
| ACUSHNET | Equipment | $247,750.00 |
| BECKET | Equipment | $151,615.00 |
| BLANDFORD | Equipment | $199,276.00 |
| BREWSTER | Equipment | $250,000.00 |
| BUCKLAND | Equipment | $171,128.00 |
| COLRAIN | Equipment | $250,000.00 |
| CONWAY | Equipment | $250,000.00 |
| DEERFIELD | Equipment | $239,190.00 |
| FAIRHAVEN | Equipment | $118,500.00 |
| GILL | Equipment | $246,000.00 |
| HEATH | Equipment | $170,093.00 |
| HINSDALE | Equipment | $218,291.64 |
| LEVERETT | Equipment | $250,000.00 |
| MONSON | Equipment | $250,000.00 |
| NANTUCKET | Equipment | $191,550.00 |
| NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH | Equipment | $178,000.00 |
| NORTHFIELD | Equipment | $210,305.67 |
| PETERSHAM | Equipment | $120,000.00 |
| PLAINFIELD | Equipment | $250,000.00 |
| PLYMOUTH | Equipment | $250,000.00 |
| PRINCETON | Equipment | $92,417.48 |
| RUTLAND | Equipment | $200,000.00 |
| SAVOY | Equipment | $250,000.00 |
| SHELBURNE | Equipment | $163,000.00 |
| SHUTESBURY | Equipment | $250,000.00 |
| STOCKBRIDGE | Equipment | $249,923.00 |
| WAREHAM | Equipment | $250,000.00 |
| WARWICK | Equipment | $250,000.00 |
| WELLFLEET | Equipment | $150,000.00 |
| WHATELY | Equipment | $225,000.00 |
| WINDSOR | Equipment | $143,058.35 |
| WORTHINGTON | Equipment | $226,000.00 |
| Municipality | Project Phase | Award Amount |
|---|
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