Section 24. The board or officer having authority over public ways in a town shall, if the public safety so requires, cause such ways to be closed where they enter upon and unite with an existing public way or may by other sufficient means caution the public against entering thereon; otherwise the town shall be liable for damages arising from defects therein as in the case of ways duly laid out and established.
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