WESTFIELD – The Board of Public Works voted unanimously last night to conditionally award Part 2 of the South Phase of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail construction project to ET&L Corporation of Stow.
ET&L submitted the low bid of $2,297,538 to construct the next three quarters of a mile of the trail, work that includes extensive bridge work.
The Columbia Greenway Rail Trail became a reality this past year when the first 5,000 feet of the linear park were completed during Part 1 of the South Phase, extending the trail, which has been completed in Southwick, from the city line to just south of Tin Bridge.
The project includes two bridge elements, the rehabilitation of Tin Bridge, which crosses Little River, and the entire replacement of a bridge over South Meadow Road. The cost of that bridge work is why the bids considered by the BPW last night were over $2 million, but could be adjusted downward City Engineer Mark Cressotti said.
The project bid included construction of a trail along a former railroad spur servicing Commercial Distributing Corp. and the former Strathmore Paper plant, both on South Broad Street. The city was negotiating with Sullivan Transportation, the current owner of the former Strathmore plan and the rail spur, to purchase that land for a bicycle access. But that negotiation has stalled while Commercial Distributing negotiates using that property for an expansion,
Cressotti said that the project is contingent upon funding, with $2 million in the current state budget and the remaining funds from the city’s 2014 fiscal year Chapter 90 funding. The state cannot release that $2 million grant until the city receives clearance from the National Park Service concerning Article 97 conversion of part of the Cross Street playground.
The contract will bring the trail, which currently terminates 500 feet south of Tin Bridge to East Silver Street where an access ramp will be constructed. The project will not cross the East Silver Street railroad bridge, nor will it involve removal of that span which is frequently hit by commercial trucks.
Cressotti said city officials hope to receive the state grant money and begin the trail work “by early summer. The grant is waiting for the city’s compliance with the Cross Street playground (Article 97) issue.”
Bob Pac of the Friends of the Columbia Greenway spoke during public participation, stating that the existing section of the trail is heavily used and that the extension to East Silver Street will only increase accessibility and usage. Members of the Friends group have conducted counts to determine the volume and type of traffic, foot or bicycle, on the trail.
“I don’t have the whole report yet,” Pac said, “but the trail is being used.”
Pac also asked which city department, Parks & Recreation or Public Works will maintain the trail, mowing grass and brush and emptying trash containers at parking areas.
Public Works Superintendent Jim Mulvenna said the DPW crews recently mowed areas and have been removing trash several times a week.
