MassDOT Prepping For Framingham Salt Shed Project

FRAMINGHAM, MA — If the prospect of a new salt storage shed in Framingham doesn't sound exciting, you've probably never been delayed by flooding along Route 9.

MassDOT this week announced it will hold a hearing on Feb. 2 to reveal plans to relocate a salt shed inside the cloverleaf at the Route 9 and Route 126 intersection. That relocation will allow MassDOT to install new catch basins along Route 9 to alleviate flooding in the area.

The salt shed relocation will be the first phase of the project, which may take several years to complete.

Over the summer, local lawmakers asked Gov. Charlie Baker and MassDOT to prioritize the project. But the salt shed may not be relocated until 2022, and the new drains may not be installed until 2023, according to MassDOT.

But the Feb. 2 hearing is a sign that the project is at least in the planning stages. There was also good news last week when lawmakers passed a $16.5 billion transportation bond bill that included $2 million to fix Route 9 flooding in Framingham.

Related: Route 9 Flooding Fix Still A Few Years Away, MassDOT Says