CHARLTON, Mass. - State transportation leaders celebrate the completion of a central Massachusetts project one year ahead of schedule. The main goal of the Charlton-Oxford Route 20 roadway reconstruction project is to improve safety along more than three miles of corridor. The $170 million project includes roadway widening, a continuous median, a new roundabout, and safer accommodations for cyclists and pedestrians. State and local leaders gathered in Charlton Monday to mark this major transformation. 

“Route 20 is a critical east, west corridor. It connects communities, it connects businesses. It’s a vital link for residents and commuters,” interim MassDOT secretary Phillip Eng said. “The improvements were the result of a road safety audit. They allowed us to review crash patterns along the corridor, identify what infrastructure upgrades would be most beneficial and how to implement them to reduce the number of crashes in the future and to make sure this road is safe for future users.”

The families of deadly and serious crash victims along Route 20 played a role in deciding what improvements were needed.