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In response to the recent article in the Reminder titled Candidate Rails Against Rotary Paving Under Inclement Weather Conditions, the East Longmeadow Department of Public Works would like to clarify certain statements that were inaccurately stated within its text.
The original decision to repave the Center Rotary was made by the Board of Public Works during 2007 and a bid was published shortly thereafter. After publication of bids, underground utility companies such as Verizon and Bay State Gas were notified of the upcoming project and were instructed to complete any upgrades or repairs to their distribution systems prior to paving, as they would not be allowed to dig the newly paved roadway for at least five years (except in the case of emergency). Upon opening of the bids, Palmer Paving Corporation of Palmer, Massachusetts, was determined, the low-bidder and was awarded a contract in the fall of 2007.
Discussion were held with Bay State Gas in the fall of 2007 and it was determined that a major underground pressure reducing vault and associated piping would need to be replaced prior to paving. The gas company agreed to begin construction in the spring of 2008 and agreed to complete work prior to the Fourth of July holiday. Deterioration of their piping network led to more extensive replacement than originally planned, and their project was not completed until late summer.
Once complete, Palmer Paving was notified by the D.P.W. that the rotary was ready for milling and paving and the project was advanced to their scheduling department. While it was the intent of all parties involved to complete the paving project prior to early November, delays and weather re-scheduling pushed completion to mid-November.
The Department of Public Works strives to maintain a quality cost effective result in all of its endeavors, and paving is no different. We rely on the Massachusetts Highway Department s Standard Specifications for Highways and Bridges for guidance in roadway work. Palmer Paving had the project scheduled to begin on Nov. 10, 2008 and finish that same week in full compliance of Mass Highway s Specifications, Section 460.63.
In early November, as standard procedure, Palmer Paving sends municipalities that they have contractors with a letter to sign that reminds them of the terms of Section 460.63 of Mass Highways Specifications which reads Construction of Bituminous Pavement shall terminate Nov. 15 and shall not be resumed prior to April 1 except as determined and directed in writing by the engineer depending upon the necessity and emergency of attendant conditions: weather conditions, and location of the project. This document would release Palmer Paving of their warranty if the paving was not completed by Nov. 15. The Department of Public Works signed the letter to acknowledge the receipt of the letter and the terms of the agreement. However, we retained the right to cancel the paving if there was a delay and could not be completed by Nov. 15. The release was not needed, as Palmer Paving was able to fit our project into their paving schedule.
Palmer Paving began milling of the existing surface on Nov. 10, 2008 and completed paving the rotary on Nov. 13, 2008. The project was completed almost entirely at night so as to alleviate potential traffic nightmares should we have shut down the rotary during the day. Palmer Paving worked under direct supervision of the D.P.W. and an inspector was on site for the entire project. One minor problem was encountered when an asphalt delivery vehicle accidentally hit an overhead electrical line and the vehicle and its load could not be removed until National Grid was able to remove the downed wires. This accident did result in unacceptable asphalt being laid down, and Palmer Paving agreed to remove and replace the substandard material at its own cost.
Palmer Paving has completed a significant amount of roadway paving contracts in town over the past decade with great success, and any issues that may have arisen have been addressed in a timely and satisfactory fashion. The Department feels that we were able to successfully execute and complete another contract which furthers our mission to provide safe roadways to its residents.
Daniel Burack
Chair, Board of Public Works
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