Trail contract to be awarded soon
By Leslie H. Dixon / Daily News Staff
Tuesday, March 22, 2005

MILFORD -- The contract for the first phase of the $3 million Upper Charles trail project is expected to be awarded shortly.
          
"MassHighway is in the process of awarding the contract," Reno DeLuzio, chairman of the Upper Charles Trail Committee, said yesterday.

DeLuzio said the state agency recently opened seven bids, including a low bid of $1.4 million by Northern Construction Services. DeLuzio said construction on the first phase of Milford's proposed 12-foot-wide paved bike trail which will be used for biking, jogging, walking, cross-country skiing and in-line skating, is expected to begin as soon as the contract is awarded and weather permits.
          
The path will stretch three miles through Milford from the commuter parking lot near Sacred Heart Church on East Main Street through Fino Field, across Dilla Street, and past the eastern shore of Louisa Lake, ending up on Cedar Street past Interstate 495 to a subdivision road named Deer Street, which has not yet been built.
          
DeLuzio said more than 20 people showed up recently to organize the Friends of the Trail -- volunteers who will oversee operation of the trail. The group is under the auspices of the Parks and Recreation Department, which will maintain the trail. Combined with the Milford Upper Charles Trail Committee, there are about 44 people working as volunteers to make the trail a success.
          
"We had a good turnout. The response was positive," said DeLuzio of the group which will meet again April 6 at 7 p.m. The location of the meeting has not yet been determined, said DeLuzio.
          
The next step toward completing the trail will come in June when voters will be asked to appropriate $150,000 to help pay for the second phase of the $3 million project. Ninety percent of both phase one and two will be funded by state and federal money.
          
Although Town Meeting members approved $150,000 for phase two construction and design costs several years ago, inflation and other factors doubled those estimates.
          
The trails are part of the proposed 27-mile Upper Charles Trail, which runs through Framingham, Sherborn, Holliston, Milford, Hopkinton and Ashland. Holliston has received construction money for its part of the trail, but other towns have not yet developed trail plans.

   ( Leslie H. Dixon may be reached at 508-634-7521 or by e-mail at ldixon@cnc.com. )