SAUGUS — State Rep. Jessica Giannino announced that Saugus will be receiving $240,483 from the Winter Recovery Assistance Program to support local road and infrastructure improvements following this past winter.

“Their investments will help our communities repair and improve local roadways, making them safer and more reliable for residents, businesses, and visitors alike,” Giannino wrote.

Giannino said she was grateful to her colleagues and local municipal partners for their continued collaboration in securing resources to benefit the communities they represent.

In 2025 and 2026, Saugus and the rest of the North Shore saw extreme snowfall. Earlier this year, DPW Director Brendan O’Regan told the Daily Item that the town had received 17 to 18 inches by the end of January and 26 to 27 inches in 2025.

In April, the town’s Finance Committee met with O’Regan and Town Manager Scott Crabtree to discuss the FY27 budget. O’Regan had stated that the winter had caused approximately $200,000 in vehicle repairs.

A spike in potholes also hit Massachusetts roads after the winter, underscoring the importance of road repair funds.

Water from melting snow and ice gets into the pavement, softening it. During repeated winter storms and cold spells, which stretched from December 2025 to March 2026, the water in the pavement refreezes and expands. This action breaks up the pavement. Weakened roads eventually crack under the pressure of vehicles, leading to potholes and damaged roads.

Road damage is also caused by the heavy use of winter vehicles, such as plows, which bang and scrape against roads.