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Clinton Hopes To Use Stimulus To Rebuild A Vital Bridge

Town officials in Clinton hope to use federal stimulus money to repair the Water Street Bridge. (Fred Thys/WBUR)
Town officials in Clinton hope to use federal stimulus money to repair the Water Street Bridge. (Fred Thys/WBUR)

Massachusetts is expected to award $153 million in contracts for shovel-ready road and bridge projects by July 1. The money comes from the federal stimulus package; it's meant to create jobs around the state. Among the candidates for approval by the state is a bridge in Clinton.

The Nashua River is at the heart of Clinton. It was key to the town's prosperity during the Industrial Revolution as mills grew up alongside it. When the Wachusett Dam was built across the river, the waters of its reservoir flooded 40 percent of the town's land.

"Construction started in 1892 and was fully completed in 1904," says state Rep. Harold Naughton.

Driving by the dam, Naughton describes how construction of the dam dramatically affected the history of the town.

This program aired on April 12, 2009. The audio for this program is not available.

Headshot of Fred Thys

Fred Thys Reporter
Fred Thys reported on politics and higher education for WBUR.

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