Chair: $97.5 million wastewater plant underway but running about three months behind schedule

The chairman updated the Water Resource & Marketing Committee that construction of the Town's new water resource recovery facility is underway under a $97,500,000 contract and that the town has approved about $957,000 in change orders, roughly 1% of the contract value.

“The contractor is behind by about three months from the original completion date,” the chairman said, adding that the contractor has added an extra crane and may run overtime and limited Saturday crews to accelerate work. He said formwork and concrete pours are ongoing and three sequencing SBR basin walls are in progress.

Committee members asked whether the town could assess penalties or incentives for the schedule slippage. The chairman replied that the contract includes liquidated damages but that some delay requests are the subject of negotiation between town staff and the contractor.

The meeting also reviewed related collection-system progress. Contract 2 is complete for water and sewer main installation with site restoration and landscaping remaining and a pump station energized for hydraulic testing. Contract 3 crews have completed mainline sewer work and placed a base course on South Shore Drive pending final testing and a scheduled May 22 completion. Contract 4 work reported as complete in the contract area, though MassDOT has ongoing operations affecting the corridor.

Members noted traffic and scheduling concerns tied to Contract 5 work on Route 28 and adjacent side streets. Town staff said DOT granted permission to work through June 19, but members asked that the contractor limit long detours after Memorial Day and be mindful of local business impacts.

The chairman closed by saying Contract 6 has tentative award approvals and historical-preservation clearance for one pump station site; staff expect the DEP and SRF authorization steps to follow before formal award and mobilization later this year.