WOODSTOCK – Two major highway projects were approved by the selectmen Tuesday as the town moves ahead in its efforts to catch up on road work that’s been on hold for several years.

According to Town Manager Vern Maxfield, the two projects concern paving about two miles on the Cushman Road to complete a project started last year and reclaiming and grading the Koskela Road.

“We will be paving the unpaved section of the Cushman Road,” said Maxfield, “which is a stretch of just under two miles. The section has been fully prepared with the exception of two culverts that need to be replaced and that part of the project will be done as soon as the highway crew can get to it.’

He said Koskela Road would be reclaimed by grinding and grading later this summer or early fall to have it ready to be paved next year.

The projects will cost $50,953 for the Cushman Road project and $9,970 on the Koskela Road. Both jobs will be completed by Commercial Paving of Scarborough.

Maxfield said the money was approved at the March town meeting to cover the expense.

The board also approved the purchase of a road-shoulder grooming machine for $3,300.

During the past two weeks, the highway crew has tried out the unit to see if it would do the job, and they reported that it worked very well.

Funds for the machine are available through a $4,967 reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency from damage done to several town roads during the heavy rainstorms in December.