Dartmouth Times

Project Background and Scope:

In 2020, the Town of Plymouth completed a Preliminary Engineering Review of the stormwater drainage in the South Main Street and Russell Street area. This study led to an application to the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Agency (EDA) for funding to re-construct the drainage in this area at an estimated total cost of $3.5 million. For projects like this, Federal agencies typically grant funds for up to 80% of the total project costs and, in the spring of 2021, the Town was awarded a grant of $2.7 million from EDA for the project. The Town of Plymouth is responsible for the remaining project costs.

Infrastructure projects are very expensive and there are many Federal regulations that the Town of Plymouth must follow including procurement of engineering services, environmental permits, bidding, construction safety, labor standards, and reporting. Due to the overall cost of the project, in 2020 the Town decided to focus on the stormwater infrastructure and rebuilding the associated roads and sidewalks without adding additional amenities. The project scope, as authorized by EDA is: “The construction of stormwater management infrastructure improvements on Main, Russell and Warren Streets in the downtown commercial district consisting of approximately 4,750 LF of 12-to-30-inch stormwater pipelines, 83 drainage structures, a drainage outfall detention pond south of Main Street, 14,000 SY of roadway reconstruction, 2,500 SY of sidewalk reconstruction and lighting improvements and other related appurtenances as needed.”

Project Design and Bidding:

During 2021, the Town procured HEB Engineers, Inc. to complete the project design, environmental permitting, project bidding, and construction inspection. The cost of these engineering services is approximately $610,000. During the design, there were several changes to the original project concept due to environmental regulations. The design and bidding information was completed in the summer of 2022.

The Town of Plymouth bid the project three times in the summer, fall, and early winter of 2022-23 to try to obtain good competition and construction pricing. However, there has been minimal interest by contractors in the project. Since the original cost estimate from 2020 construction costs have greatly increased in part due to a shortage of materials as well as increases in cost of fuel and labor resulting in all bids being over budget. The last bid opening for the construction of the project was on January 27, 2023 with only one bid received from N. Granese & Sons, Inc. at a cost of $4,647,005.

Project Funding:

The cost for construction plus engineering, administrative, and legal fees, brings the total cost of the project to $5.3 million as of January 2023. EDA’s grant will pay for $2.7 million of the total project cost and the Town of Plymouth needs to raise the additional $2.6 million. The Town already has some funds available, but in order to proceed, a bond of up to $1.8 million is needed. The Town of Plymouth is asking voters to support this bond at the March 15, 2023 Town Meeting. Approval of the bond is needed in order to start construction in the Spring of 2023.

The contractor, N. Granese & Sons, Inc. will also be working for Plymouth Village Water and Sewer District (PVWSD) on their water and sewer infrastructure upgrades staring in the spring of 2023. Having the same contractor work on the PVWSD project and the Town’s drainage work will be more efficient for the community. The contractor will hopefully be able to have multiple crews working and complete the project efficiently. It is anticipated that there will be cost savings as the construction progresses. Therefore, the Town of Plymouth may not need to use all of the bond. However, it is important that we budget for the full amount of $1.8 million to ensure we have the funds available to proceed. Without support from the Town of Plymouth for this bond, we will not be able to proceed with the project and all the work, including the design and engineering work by HEB Engineers, will be wasted. The Select Board recommends approval of the bond.

Original source can be found here.