Construction on Gorham Street bridge
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation will fully replace two bridges in the town of Chelmsford, including Westford Street over Interstate 495 in Chelmsford and Route 3A (Gorham Street) over I-495 on the Chelmsford/Lowell line.
On Thursday, Oct. 8, crews will place concrete for the new Gorham Street bridge structure, which is a critical milestone in the new bridge construction. This work will include crews and equipment arriving on site at 5 a.m. and work until approximately 7 p.m.
During the pour there will be increased truck traffic, police details will be on-site to direct traffic and help minimize disruptions and maintain driveway access. Sidewalk access will be closed to foot traffic through Thursday, Oct. 8.
MassDOT encourages drivers to avoid the area and seek alternate routes to minimize delays. Those traveling through the area should expect delays, reduce speed and use caution. The schedule for this major infrastructure project is weather dependent and subject to change without notice.
For more information, email ChelmsfordLowellBridges@dot.state.ma.us or visit bit.ly/4j3Qiff.
$25K grant to DHOH from GBFB
LOWELL — The Greater Boston Food Bank presents a $25,000 Community Investment Grant to Dwelling House of Hope Thursday, Oct. 8, from 9:30 to 10 a.m., at DHOH, 125 Mount Hope St. State Sen. Vanna Howard, GBFH President Carl Howell and DHOH founder and Executive Director Levenia Furusa will give remarks.
GBFB’s Community Investment Grant program provides funding to local hunger-relief organizations to strengthen operations, expand capacity and improve access to nutritious food. Since 2013, GBFB has distributed more than $12 million in these grants to local food pantries and meal programs across eastern Massachusetts.
The grant will support technology, transportation and food pantry improvements to help DHOH continue to provide healthy food to neighbors through its pantries in Lowell and Lawrence, and includes new computers, carts for the pantry and a wrap for the organization’s truck.
A GBFB network partner since 2019, DHOH has received more than $1.9 million worth of food from GBFB this year alone. The new $25,000 grant builds on $113,700 in grant funding GBFB has provided to Dwelling House of Hope since the partnership began.
GBFB distributes healthy food to more than 600,000 people every month through its network of Eastern Massachusetts food pantries and meal programs located in 190 cities and towns.
For more information on DHOH, call 866-674-9988 or visit dwellinghouseofhope.org.
Student mural unveiling
LOWELL — Refugee Art presents Waves of Migration, a mural unveiling of the nonprofit’s recent student-led artwork on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 5 to 8 p.m., at Western Avenue Studios, 122 Western Ave.
Waves of Migration pays homage to the many communities who have made Lowell home, and celebrates the diverse cultural experiences that shape the city. The evening will be celebrated with open mic poetry, music and dance performances.
There will be food trucks and the unveiling overlaps with the Lowell Hip Hop Festival taking place at Taffeta Music Hall next door. Another student-created mural unveiling takes place at the Hive Public Market on Sunday, Nov. 8, from 3 to 5 p.m., 101 Paige St.
For more information, call 978-973-4314 or visit refugeartschool.com.
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