CHESHIRE, Mass. — A special town meeting is set for March 6 to vote to adopt the design for the $2.6 million Sand Mill Road Bridge project. 

The board approved the date at its meeting on Tuesday. The project, to be done by the state Department of Transportation, will replace the bridge and expand the width to include two 10-foot travel lanes and shoulders on both sides of the roadway. 

The project will begin construction in Spring of 2024, pending design approval at the town meeting. While there is no meeting warrant yet, Town Administrator Jennifer Morse said she is working on one with town counsel. 

"That was the date that was agreeable to the Town Clerk and the Moderator," she said. "... I have reached out to counsel to get the language I need for the bridge, and I have not heard yet. So as soon as I do, I'll start putting together the warrant." 

Other proposed improvements to the bridge include new roadway approaches, wingwall and retaining walls, guardrails and drainage improvements. MassDOT held a public hearing for the project in March last year.

The town meeting warrant will also include lead service line work to be performed by Engineering Firm Tighe & Bond. Morse said the town is mandated to do an inventory of service lines. 

In other business: 

• The board unanimously voted to opt out of early voting for the annual town election. Voters will be able to vote via absentee ballots or on election day. 

The board plans to have the town clerk visit a future meeting to discuss the process for poll workers and how to get equal representation of Republicans and Democrats among them.  

"I've worked election recently people are jumping to actually come out and volunteer work elections," Morse said. "Especially after the last presidential elections we've had, people want to work polls."

• The board approved the appointment of Recreation Committee members Tim Garner, Christopher Garner and Corey McGrath. 

• The board approved the job descriptions for the Cemetery Laborer and Foreman positions.