Section 1. Highways and town ways, including railroad crossings at grade with such highways and town ways, shall be kept in repair at the expense of the town in which they are situated, so that they may be reasonably safe and convenient for travelers, with their horses, teams, vehicles and carriages at all seasons. A city or town shall submit a letter of request for such repair and for approval by the state department of highways. Upon receipt of such approval, the city or town shall be reimbursed by the commonwealth from monies which may be appropriated therefor by the commonwealth and the federal government to defray expenses of such repairs for safety programming. Such reimbursement will not create liability, of any kind, either civil or criminal on the part of the commonwealth or the federal government.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title XIV - Public Ways and Works
Chapter 84 - Repair of Ways and Bridges
Section 1 - Repair of Highways and Town Ways at Expense of Towns
Section 2 - Repair of Bridge by Two or More Towns; Repair of Drawbridge
Section 3 - Enforcement of Order for Repair
Section 4 - Warrants Against Delinquent Towns
Section 5a - Removal of Snow or Ice; Equipment and Employees
Section 6 - Sanding of Tarred Ways
Section 7 - Duties of Surveyors of Highways and Road Commissioners
Section 7a - Notice of Repair, Construction or Reconstruction of Road or Highway
Section 8 - Fences, Gates or Bars to Prevent Spread of Disease; Removal
Section 9 - Ditches by Side of Ways
Section 10 - Entry Upon Land to Secure and Protect Public Way; Damages
Section 11 - State Aid for Keeping Highway Open in Winter
Section 11a - Maintenance of Highways Constructed or Improved in Whole or in Part by County
Section 13 - Refusal or Neglect of Proprietor or Occupant to Comply With Vote
Section 14 - Financing Repairs
Section 15 - Personal Injuries or Property Damage From Defective Ways
Section 16 - Damage Caused by Excessive Load
Section 17 - Injury or Damage Caused by Snow or Ice
Section 18 - Notice of Injury; Contents; Limitation of Action
Section 19 - Service of Notice
Section 20 - Omissions in Notice; Notice of Insufficiency
Section 21 - Notice to Owner of Private Property
Section 22 - Neglect to Repair Way; Penalty
Section 24 - Damage From Defects in Dedicated Ways
Section 25 - Repairs Made on Way Within Six Years of Injury
Section 26 - Liability of Abutting Lot Owner
Section 27 - Excavations Abutting Public Way; Liability of Owners
Section 27a - Erection of Barriers at Excavations Abutting Public Ways; Duty of Owner; Penalty