Swansea gets $1M to begin a long-planned Route 6 sewer project. The town has big plans.
Town officials say Swansea will be more attractive to businesses and housing developments along Route 6 with a sewer system now in the works, thanks to a nearly million-dollar grant from the federal government.
The town has long been planning a $21 million project to bring public sewer service to the Route 6 corridor, with the goal of making the area ready for large-scale retail and housing projects.
U.S. Rep Jake Auchincloss announced last week that he secured $959,752 through the federal Community Project Funding Program to help construct Phase 1 of the project.
“I’ve been championing this cause for a while and am excited we are at the point of funding, at least partially, for this critical infrastructure that is so important to our Town’s economic vitality,” said Board of Selectmen Chairman Chris Carreiro in a statement.
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Swansea looks to expand retail and housing opportunities
Swansea does not have townwide sewer service of its own, relying largely on private septic systems. The town signed an intermunicipal agreement with Somerset in 2021, allowing Swansea to use Somerset’s sewer infrastructure and wastewater treatment facilities.
The first phase of Swansea’s sewer project would construct a main sewer line from the Somerset line west on Route 6 to Route 118, and north on 118 to Wood Street.
This is the hub of Swansea’s commercial district, including the Venus de Milo banquet facility, RK Swansea Place with Target, Marshall’s, Five Guys, McDonald’s and more retail shops on Route 6. Along the east side of Route 118 is a series of retail strips and the Swansea Crossing plaza, which holds a Tractor Supply Co., Yankee Spirits liquor store and more.
On the west side of Route 118 is Walmart and Swansea Center, the former mall that has thus far struggled to attract many significant retail tenants. The developer’s plan for Swansea Center includes two apartment buildings with 144 units; those buildings have not yet materialized.
Along the entire route, there is ample retail space for lease.
The portion of Route 118 known as Swansea Mall Drive is also being redeveloped as part of the state's Complete Streets program to become more pedestrian-friendly, at an estimated cost of $9 million in state and federal funds. That project is not expected to begin until 2027 or 2028 at the earliest.
“With updated systems, Swansea can continue to spur commercial development, which ultimately helps strengthen our tax base,” stated Town Administrator Mallory Aronstein. “We hope to realize transformative growth in our community and understand sewer is an important piece for businesses to consider.”
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When will Swansea's sewer system be developed?
The project is part of a planned multi-phase project that would eventually deliver sewer service to the rest of town, including Ocean Grove.
Development for the Route 6 sewer system is expected to start in July and end in November 2026.
In a statement, Aronstein thanked Auchincloss for obtaining the grant funding and state Sen. Michael Rodrigues and state Reps. Patricia Haddad and Steven Howitt for “supporting this important project."
“We have been really creative with financing thus far, using American Rescue Plan Act funding for design and bid specification, and now seeking these federal opportunities for the beginning of construction," said Carreiro. “The result is minimizing the impact to the taxpayer.”
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Swansea Route 6 sewer project to begin; town gets $1M federal grant
