(AUBURN 5/8/2026) — Last week, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced that Auburn’s Pinrock Road Bridge has been selected to receive a construction grant under the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Funding for Accelerated Infrastructure Repair (FAIR) Program. The nearly $830,000 grant will pay for the bridge’s preservation project, including the repair of concrete decks, the installation of a new wearing surface on the bridge deck, upgrades to the bridge’s safety features, and more.
Built in 1957, Pinrock Road Bridge was identified as being in disrepair by a Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) inspection report. While the structure was observed to have no substructure issues, the superstructure, roadway approaches, and pedestrian safety infrastructure are in need of repair.
The $829,989.22 grant is expected to cover the actual construction costs of the project, including a $75,000 allowance for engineering services.
“I’m pleased that MassDOT has selected Auburn as the recipient of a generous grant to cover the costs of its Pinrock Road Bridge renovation project,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “This bridge has long been in need of repairs, and because of these dollars awarded through the FAIR Program, the town can now get this project done without draining its yearly Chapter 90 funds. Thank you to the Governor, her administration, and everyone who helped make this grant a reality – I’m looking forward to the completion of these important repairs.”
Representative Paul Frost (R-Auburn) commented, “This is an important project for Auburn and I’m very grateful MassDOT is awarding this funding to get it done. Now over $800,000 can be saved by Auburn to be used for local roads.”
Over the last several years, the Town of Auburn’s Engineering Division has been working with MassDOT to identify opportunities to secure funding for the needed repairs to the Pinrock Road Bridge. After submitting a proposal written by the Engineering Division, MassDOT selected Auburn to receive funding from the FAIR Program. The proposal emphasized that, if left to the town’s typical Chapter 90 allocation, this project would divert a significant portion of funds away from other needed repairs and maintenance across the town.
Despite federal law requiring MassDOT to inspect all bridges in the Commonwealth, the cost of maintenance and replacement of municipal-owned bridges falls to the cities and towns they reside in. The FAIR Program, established by Governor Healey earlier this year, addresses the strain bridge repairs put on municipal budgets by providing a dedicated, centralized source of funding for these projects.
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