MARION — After listening to a presentation about a proposed $5.7 million dollar capital improvements plan,  Marion Selectmen gave Director of Public Works David Willett their approval to finish design plans with engineering and construction firm CDM Smith.

Currently, designs for the Village Area Capital Improvements Plan are about 90% done. Current design plans specify that sections of Pitcher, Main, Hiller, Water, Cottage, and Front Streets would be completely torn up and replaced. 

Plans also include the addition of streetlights, concrete sidewalks, and painted crosswalks throughout the village area.

A 2014 estimate suggested that the project would cost about $4.6 million, but the current estimate is $5.7 million, accounting for inflation since.

Willett said that the project would take about a year and a half to complete.

In a separate presentation, Willett discussed the potential use of funds from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Complete Street grant program to improve sidewalks in the town. 

According to Willett, rough estimates list the cost to rebuild sidewalks at about $100,000 per 500 feet of sidewalk, of which the grant would cover $75,000.

Selectmen expressed interest in using this grant, but no plans have been finished at this time.