Massaro says K–5 elementary project is progressing despite wet soils

A Massaro project representative updated the Bethel Park School District on the K–5 elementary center construction, saying crews have moved roughly 190,000 cubic yards of dirt to build new roads, a parking area and to raise playfields. "Not to sound like a broken record, but nothing too too exciting going on over there. Just pushing dirt," the Massaro presenter said.

The presenter said the site team is installing retaining walls at a stream crossing, preparing a stormwater retention basin and will demolish the existing pool barn once permits are in hand. He reported about 40 days of work to date with "0 recordable incidents and accidents" since construction began. The contractor said recent rains and saturated soils have slowed work and that natural springs near the stream are introducing additional groundwater into excavations.

The district asked whether excavations had encountered coal seams or pyritic material; the Massaro representative said the geotechnical report noted potential pyritic material but the team has not encountered it in excavated soils and has been able to dry and reuse material on site rather than import or remove it. For springs and groundwater, he said crews are temporarily capturing and diverting flow downstream and will tie into the natural creek and wetlands rather than installing a large new piped system in the current areas.

The contractor said a formal baseline schedule is not yet compiled because prime contractors and subcontractors are still submitting activity durations; he estimated assembling the master schedule could take about a month, after which he will report on slippages or gains (for example, "a week behind" or "three days ahead"). In the near term the work plan includes continued retaining‑wall construction, stormwater basin work and demolition of the pool barn, then starting wall number three and continuing site grading and drainage.