Commission OKs Route 5 clearing with 20-foot limit

Conservation · Meeting of September 25, 2026

WHATELY — The Conservation Commission voted unanimously to issue a negative determination of applicability for MassDOT vegetation clearing on Route 5 near the I-91 bridge, with clearing limited to 20 feet from the guardrail in one section. Robin, a MassDOT representative, said the work covers just under two-tenths of a mile between mile markers 33.5 and 33.7, with stumps left in place and no grubbing, to improve visibility after wrong-way and collision incidents at the ramps. Allison Bell, a local farm's conservation manager, asked the commission to back an invasive plant effort, and members plan a vote next month.

Kelly updated members on a notched beaver dam on State Road and road millings near Tri-Town Beach.

In the full story:

• WHATELY — September 25, 2026 —
• MassDOT Request for Determination: Route 5 near I-91
• Minutes
• Invasive Plant Management Proposal
• Enforcement Updates
• Other Business
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 1,763 words

Source: the Conservation meeting of September 25, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.