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NORTHBRIDGE, Mass. – Contractors should be back to work soon on the Ross Rajotte Memorial Bridge in Rockdale, but reconstruction is about a year behind schedule.
The $3.6 million MassHighway project began in the spring of 2011 and was scheduled for completion this summer. Ledge under the surface of the water and a dispute over the contract brought the project to a standstill for months this winter.
“They missed a valuable season of building,’’ noted Selectman Charles Ampagoomian at a meeting of the Board of Selectmen earlier this week. Ampagoomian noted work could have continued throughout the exceptionally mild winter.
Department of Public Works Director James Shuris said he met a representative of the state Department of Transportation on Monday and learned that the state and contractor have reached a resolution.
"It was a great meeting; they came to a resolution on soil and the executive change order is under review,'' he said. It will take about two weeks to get the necessary equipment in place, but Shuris expects construction will resume in a couple of weeks.
“But it will not be completed in August,’’ which was the original end date, he said. He expects it won’t be completed now until next summer, a year later than planned.
The bridge is being widened and heightened, replaced with a 32-foot wide span and a 6.5-foot sidewalk on the east side.
Project information on the state’s website, http://www.mhd.state.ma.us/default.asp?pgid=content/projectsRoot&sid=wrapper&iid=http://www.mhd.state.ma.us/ProjectInfo/, does not reflect the new construction schedule.
Comments (8)
icecat, you are so on the money with that one. Laurieann's is a great spot to eat. I hope people remember that they could probably use the business when they're thinking of some place to eat. All the businesses around there are probably negatively impacted, but I can not imagine that impact is felt more than at Laurieann's.
Who ever would have thought they would have hit ledge in ROCKdale.
When You Think our Navy Seabee's in the Wars, use to build a Bridge in one or two days!
It's about Time!!! Missed a Great Winter for work on it, Since when does a contractor back away from a signed Contract?
brucekc,
We think it is when the construction contractor and owner comply with the contract. Why do we always think that only the conractor can not comply with a contract responsibility. A contract is usualy between two parties each with its own responsibilities.
Ya but the person taking the big hit is the restaurant owners.
Based of the history of bridge replacements in Millbury, did anyone think that this project would go according to schedule?
This could happen only in Massachusetts! The Sears Tower was built in 16 months... go figure!