Williamsburg Select Board Hears Divided Public on $13 Million Mountain Street Project

WILLIAMSBURG — July 12, 2021 — Williamsburg residents clashed over a $13 million Mountain Street reconstruction proposal at the July 12 Select Board meeting. The project, covering approximately 2.84 miles at a cost residents calculated at roughly $867 per linear foot, is funded largely by state and federal dollars but must meet state engineering standards that include widened lanes and bicycle infrastructure. Joe Jens, a 35-year Mountain Street resident, opposed the widening, citing a projected 33 percent increase in road surface area and risks to private wells and septic systems within the widening corridor. Tim McWasson of North Farm Road countered that the state could withdraw funding entirely if the town fails to unify behind a design, and noted the project falls within the existing right of way. Most speakers backed Alternative 4, a shared-lane option with a gravel shoulder and 12-foot driving lanes, over alternatives that include dedicated bike lanes. The public comment period closed July 16.