Contractors have closed a portion of the Columbia Greenway Project (Rails-to-Trails) near the Shaker Road area of the city in preparation of new underground gas lines. (Photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
City reviewing Columbia Greenway contract bids
By DAN MORIARTY
Staff Writer
WESTFIELD – The city is reviewing three bids for construction contract of the southern portion of the Columbia Greenway rail trail.
The City Council, at its Feb. 2, 2012 session, voted to accept the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Gateway Community $1 million grant to the city’s Engineering Department for construction of the southern segment of the rail trail.
City Engineer Mark Cressotti said that he is reviewing the references of the contractors vying for the construction project that will extend the rail train from the Southwick Town Line to about 500 feet south of Little River.
The contract bids were opened Tuesday in the city’s Purchasing Department. The apparent low bid of $1,288,876 was submitted by Mass-West Construction, Inc., of Granby. The second low bid of $1,299,856 was submitted by Gagliarduci Construction, Inc., of Springfield. A third bid of $1,309,731 was submitted by ET&L Corporation of Stow.
Cressotti said that the city has no previous history with Mass-West and is currently performing a reference check to ensure that company can perform the work.
“Everything looks pretty good so far,” Cressotti said. “I’m hoping to have the contract signed by the end of the week. The contractor has stated that he could start work Monday (March 19).”
The contract calls for construction and paving of about 4,000 feet of the rail trail, installation of drainage to prevent erosion and protect adjacent wetlands, and construction of a 60-space parking lot abutting the trail. That 60-space parking lot will have a pervious surface to allow infiltration of water into the soil.
That parking area will be accessed through construction of a road between the Shaker Farms Country Club parking lot and the rail trail parking area. The country club is providing the city with two permanent easements through its parking area and property for that rail trail access.
Tuesday night Cressotti requested the Water Commission to approve the use of sewer funds to extend a sewer line to the Shaker Farms Country Club as a component of the rail trail contract. The sewer portion of the project is $288,876.
Construction of the access road and installation of the sewer line will require excavation within the country club’s parking lot, sections of which will be repaved following completion of those two elements of the project.
Cressotti said the southern rail trail project is being funded through a state grant and several city sources.
Mayor Daniel M. Knapik is requesting approval of two permanent easements by the City Council tonight.
“What we’re doing for the country club exceeds the value of the easements,” Knapik said.
The city will have to obtain a site-access agreement from the country club owners to begin staging construction equipment and materials.
“There is a lot of work to be done in a very short time, so we’re anxious to get this going. It has a very tight timeline, so the sooner construction starts, the better,” Knapik said. “We’re all really excited about this, it’s a huge step forward for the rail trail project.”
Cressotti said that the state grant is dictating the tight timeline.
“This project has to be completed by June 30 to comply with terms of the state grant,” Cressotti said. June 30 is the end of the current 2012 fiscal year in which the grant funding is approved.
The Columbia Greenway construction will be coordinated with the Westfield Gas & Electric Department which is also launching a project along the rail trail. The 12-inch Southwick Lateral pipeline, bringing natural gas from the Tennessee pipeline in Southwick to the city, currently terminates at Shaker Road.
The municipal utility plans to extend that 12-inch high-pressure pipe along the trail to Tin Bridge, then under the Little River, using directional drilling technology, and up to South Meadow Road. A smaller high pressure will be installed under South Broad Street and connected to existing lines at Broad Street.
The Conservation Commission issued orders of conditions for both project in January.
Dan Moriarty can be reached at [email protected]
