GREENFIELD — Construction on the Olive Street parking garage has resumed this week, as warmer temperatures have given way to favorable construction conditions.
The work, which started earlier this week, began about a week earlier than expected. The project is expected to be completed in September or October, and could provide additional parking for downtown shortly afterward.
“We started early because of the break in the weather,” Mayor William Martin said. “We planned to start the first week in April but the soil has warmed up and the frost has risen.”
The work is the first on-site since January, though work off-site was being done through the winter break. Off-site work included creating concrete flooring for the garage’s four levels.
According to Martin, once the project is complete, parking within the garage could begin as early as Oct. 31.
The garage will offer 272 parking spaces, and will include electric car charging and a pedestrian elevator, according to Martin. Once completed, it is anticipated that the garage will reduce parking and traffic woes in the downtown area, particularly those caused by the new courthouse on Hope Street.
According to Martin, the project is expected to cost about $10.25 million once complete, which is $250,000 more than its original $10 million price tag. The increase came after stone foundations were found underground in January, causing complications at the site.
Funding for the project has included $7.5 million in state money, $2.5 million in city money and $250,000 that was appropriated from a FEMA reimbursement for Hurricane Irene damages in the city.