ERVING — This season’s series of infrastructure improvements, dubbed “Infrastructure Palooza” by Town Planner Mariah Kurtz, has reached a number of milestones in recent weeks.
Sewer replacement projects on Arch Street, Route 2 and Flagg Hill Road are nearing completion. The town is also wrapping up beautification projects, including the installation of new sidewalks on Park, Central, Reynolds, Amidon, Gunn and Pratt streets, and the addition of benches at the Park Street Park.
Kurtz said the way infrastructure improvements have been ongoing throughout the fall has been a testament to Erving’s standards for living.
“I think it shows our commitment to keep our infrastructure safe and working,” Kurtz said.
Kurtz said the roughly $1.2 million pressurized sewer main replacement project on Arch Street and Route 2 will be completed by Aqua Line Utility Inc. The funds are loaned and will be repaid by the town.
Late last week, the sewer system was turned on and functioning. Although most major work to finalize the system will be completed this week, Kurtz said specifics and a solidified timeline are hard to pin down.
“We’re wrapping up,” she said. “I don’t know if there will be a specific update.”
Kurtz said this project, like several others, is weather dependent. For instance, one next step will be the seasonal planting of wetlands plant species on disturbed areas in the same vicinity.
“Anything that needs to be touched up will be done in the spring,” she said.
Flagg Hill Road’s $214,242 sewer replacement project, which is funded through a town budget appropriation, is weather dependent as well, particularly because its sudden necessity condensed the window of opportunity.
“This was an unexpected project,” she said. “There was a decline in the pipes.”
Kurtz said she anticipates Baltazar Contractors Inc. will complete the project, which was procured during the summer, “hopefully before the ground freezes” this fall.
Funded by a state Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Complete Streets grant, which allowed for spending of up to $399,596, A. Martins & Sons Construction has been finalizing completion of Erving’s new sidewalks over the past couple of weeks. Kurtz said they will all need touch-ups before being considered finished, however.
Aside from these minor touch-ups, the sidewalks on Park, Central and Reynolds streets were completed Nov. 5. Amidon Street’s sidewalk followed on Nov. 9. Kurtz said the next steps at these sites include repaving and a weather dependent tree planting.
Lastly, Kurtz said Site Specifics LLC installed four park benches (with a fifth on the way) at Park Street Park on Nov. 9, as well as an additional swinging bench. These additions were part of an ongoing $98,021.15 project, funded through a town budget appropriation, to construct the park’s new playground.
Dave Bernard Concrete also installed a concrete slab for use as the base of a picnic table. The parking area was paved by Johnson Asphalt Paving in Northfield, and new crosswalks now connect the park with nearby sidewalks.
Kurtz expressed gratitude to the Highway Department in an email for having “spent countless hours laying out where amenities would go, removing old equipment, grading the site and coordinating the parking area.”
“I hope the new park encourages residents to get together and meet with their neighbors,” she said.
Kurtz concluded her summary by acknowledging the community’s patience and reassuring residents that the projects will pay off.
“It’s been a challenge,” she said, “but once we get through it, I think Erving will be better for it.”
Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-772-0261, ext. 261 or jmendoza@recorder.com.