East Silver St. is seen near the intersection of Cleveland Ave. in Westfield in July 2018. (WNG file photo)
WESTFIELD – One of the biggest projects to be done this summer will be North Road, from Southampton Road to Wyben, with milling and paving work on the east side just across the intersection at Route 10. The project should begin at the end of July, according to Assistant Civil Engineer Jeremy J. Cigal, who said they are trying to lock in the dates right now with the contractor, Sealcoating, Inc., a national company with an office in Braintree.
Department of Public Works director David Billips said the process they will use is called cold in place recycling, where they pick up the old pavement, grind it up, and use it for the base coat of the road.
Civil Engineer Mark Cressotti described the process at a meeting in May, saying that they would “basically set up a train (of road machines) to chew up the road on one side and spit it out on the other.”
Billips said Westfield will be the first ones in Western Mass. to use the process. “We’re kind of excited about it. We like to be cutting edge when we get a chance,” Billips said, adding that it is also a less expensive method, expecting to cost a total of $800,000; $300,000 of which is from Chapter 90 funds.
After the base coat is done, Lane Construction of Westfield will do the final paving. Billips said North Road should be completed this summer.
Other road projects this summer will include: Old Stage Road, Lockhouse Road, another section of Montgomery Road from the turnpike to the high school; Dry Bridge Road, East Silver from Broad St to Noble St.; Grandview Dr., Christopher Drive – where the sewer work was done last year; and Granville Road from the town line down to Northwest.
In this photo from July 2018, sewer work continues on Blueberry Ridge in Westfield. (WNG file photo)
Work also started on Monday on Paper Mill Road and Joseph Avenue.
“We’re trying to get as many done this summer, but have until next summer in the fiscal year,” Cigal said.
Work on Washington Street, which is being done in part with Community Development Block Grant funds, will start in the fall with curb and sidewalk work, while paving is to be completed in the spring, Cigal said.
Sewer and road work are ongoing in the Ridgecrest neighborhood of Bigwood, Blueberry, Fawn, Gary and Kelly. Roads will also be paved this fall. “The Ridgecrest project is moving quicker than proposed,” Cigal said.
Also, a new sewer pump station proposed on Plantation Circle is out to bid.
The Engineering Dept. will be posting news alerts and updates, along with proposed paving schedules on the city website at www.cityofwestfield.org.
