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State will pay $1M for Farms flooding relief

By Paul Leighton
Staff writer
Published: April 30, 2009

BEVERLY — MassHighway and the MBTA have agreed to spend $1 million to help solve longtime flooding problems in Beverly Farms, according to Mayor Bill Scanlon.

Scanlon told the City Council last week that the two state agencies will make improvements at a train crossing and a highway crossing, which will clear out water in the Chubbs Brook area "much faster than before."

The only cost to the city will be $93,300 for the design work, Scanlon said.

"We are very pleased with the strong cooperation from MassHighway and the MBTA," Scanlon said.

Flooding has plagued the neighborhoods near Dix Park in Beverly Farms for years. The city spent more than $3 million to improve drainage but still experienced severe flooding in the Mother's Day storm of 2006.

In addition to the MassHighway and MBTA work, Scanlon said the city will create another water storage area, reduce the buildup of water along Goodwin Road and make improvements to allow Dix Park to store more water during rainstorms.

"Goodwin Road has had many of the worst-hit residents in the entire community over the years," Scanlon said. "This should help us quite a bit compared to where we've been."

Scanlon said the total cost to the city for design work and permitting for the Chubbs Brook improvements is $201,300. The City Council will hold a public hearing May 18 for the appropriation of that money.

Scanlon said it will take 18 months to two years to complete all of the work.

Staff writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2675 or by e-mail at pleighton@salemnews.com.