Press Release: 9/1/2026
Dudley Reopens Mill Race Bridge
Posted on August 30, 2026
A ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Brandon Road/Hill Street crossing over the French River on the Dudley and Webster town line reopened the roadway to travelers on August 28.
At the ribbon cutting ceremony, state Rep. John J. Marsi said the road opening was a team effort at all levels of town and state government.
“I appreciate the partnership with Town Administrator Ruda, state Sen. Fattman, state Rep. McKenna, Webster officials and the MassDOT team on this very successful local project that cost the Town of Dudley taxpayers zero dollars. I especially recognize Town Administrator Jonathan Ruda because he was the quarterback of this.”
Christopher Starczewski, Chairman Dudley Board of Selectmen, said Mr. Ruda served as the constant anchor holding the thread together alongside former Town Planner Bill Scanlan, the Highway Department under Superintendent MJ Gatzke, and engineering partners at Tighe & Bond, who helped craft a shovel-ready solution using a temporary Acrow modular bridge.
“We didn’t do this alone. A town border might split technical responsibility, but it doesn't divide our people. We owe deep gratitude to Webster Town Administrator Rick LaFond, his predecessor, and Webster's leadership for standing shoulder-to-shoulder with us,” Starczewski said, adding, “We also owe immense thanks to MassDOT District 3, including Highway Director Barry Lorion and Bridge Engineer Mo Nabulsi, who worked with us to find real solutions.”
Starczewski thanked Dudley’s state delegation who fought for the funding every step of the way.
“Senator Ryan Fattman and Rep. Joe McKenna were steadfast champions on Beacon Hill. And state Rep. John Marsi brings a special story to this day: John sat on the Dudley Board of Selectmen when this bridge closed. He lived the frustration as a local official, and when he went to the State House, he brought that fight with him,” he said.
The $1.3 million temporary bridge was fully funded by the state’s “millionaires’ tax” and FAIR Program (Funding for Accelerated Infrastructure Repair) in March.
In June 2021, MassDOT ordered the two-bridge crossing, constructed in 1937, closed when a dry bridge on the Dudley side, known as the Mill Race Bridge, was deemed unsafe.
Ruda then launched what became years of appeals to federal and state legislators to secure special funding and grants to reopen the road.
Working with MassDOT and the town’s engineering consultant Tighe & Bond, a plan was developed to install a temporary “Acrow” modular bridge that has been borrowed from MassDOT until a permanent solution is funded.
Rep. Marsi announced in July 2025 that he and Sen. Fattman, and state Rep. Joseph D. McKenna had secured $600,000 from the state’s “millionaires’ tax” funds toward the project.
Ruda appealed to MassDOT for the $758,586 needed to reach $1.3 million from the FAIR Program.
MassDOT responded favorably.
In a March 16, 2026, letter District 3 Highway Director Lorion wrote, “Through the FAIR Program, the community will receive $758,586 in additional funding beyond the $600,000 Fair Share supplemental transportation earmark authorized in December 2025, for a total funding commitment of $1,358,586.”
At the ribbon cutting, Mr. Lorion said FAIR is a new program that directs state funding toward closed and restricted bridges under local jurisdiction.
The Mill Race Bridge, he said, was the first such use of the funding in Central Massachusetts.
The (FAIR) program is funded by “Fair Share” (millionaire’s tax) revenue to repair, replace, and rehabilitate municipally owned bridges.
“During COVID, Dudley lost both a vital bridge and its Town playground—one an infrastructure priority, the other a quality-of-life priority. Then, as today, we had more time than money—but we never stopped moving forward,” Ruda said, adding, “Both are now complete: the playground through grant funding and Webster-Dudley-Oxford Chamber fundraising, and the bridge without raising local taxes or sacrificing the Chapter 90 funds our roads depend upon.”
“I am proud of the past and present Town staff who carried these projects forward, and grateful to Rep. John Marsi; Senator Ryan Fattman; Representative Joseph McKenna; MassDOT District 3; Tighe & Bond; Rocchio Construction; and the people of Dudley and Webster. Local government faces the same pressures felt in every household. The road ahead requires support and productive engagement—but these projects prove what we can accomplish when we rise together, sacrifice together and refuse to let difficult challenges divide us,” Ruda said.
Ribbon cutting ceremony speakers included Jeff Faulkner and Dylan Felty of Tighe & Bond and state Rep. Joseph D. McKenna.
Also in attendance were Amanda Hellyar from state Sen. Fattman's office; Dudley Selectmen Steve Sullivan, Jana Deschenes and Cindy Iwanski; Webster Selectman Elaine Davies; Town Administrator Jonathan Ruda; Assistant TA Olivia Antonson; Town Accountant Sarah Mongeau, and the teams from MassDOT District 3, Tighe & Bond and Roccio Construction. Dudley Police Department was also there to support the event.
The proposed permanent solution for the overpass would eliminate the Mill Race Bridge by re-grading the area to replicate its primary purpose, which was flood control.