LEYDEN — A frequently overflowing culvert on West Leyden Road is set to be replaced with help from a $126,600 grant from the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration.

The grant will cover engineering work for the replacement project through June 30, after which the town will need to come up with additional funds for construction work.

Town Coordinator Michele Giarusso said it will cost the town about $800,000 for the actual replacement of the culvert. The town will look for funding options while the engineering work is done.

“I’ll be applying for more grants over the next few months,” Giarusso said.

The replacement is necessary as the culvert is too small to handle the flow of water from Hibbard Brook, Giarusso said. West Leyden Road frequently overflows during rainstorms, turning the road into what town officials have been jokingly referring to as the “West Leyden Bog.”

The Division of Ecological Restoration’s Stream Continuity Program awarded more than $2 million to 17 towns this year to assist with replacing outdated culverts, improving fish and wildlife passage, reducing flood risks and ensuring public safety.

Buckland

In addition to Leyden, Buckland also received a grant of $87,770 for engineering work to replace three culverts on Elm Street. However, these funds came a little too late as the town has already completed the work.

Town Administrator Heather Butler said Buckland had applied for several grants for the project. Eventually it became clear the town could not wait any longer to replace the failing culverts and found a way to finance the work.

The grant announcement from the Division of Ecological Restoration was “a bit of a surprise” to Butler, who said she hopes to convince state officials to let the town use the funds for one of the town’s other culvert projects.

“Buckland has no shortage of culverts that could use some engineering,” she said.

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.