BUCKLAND — Although bids came back about $160,000 more than expected, the Selectboard is moving forward with the construction project on East Buckland Road.
The 3.5-mile stretch of road that is slated for paving improvements was estimated to cost $290,000 using a construction calculator on the state Department of Transportation’s website, according to Town Administrator Heather Butler. Instead, the lowest of two bids the town received was $440,543 from All States Construction in Sunderland.
“Looking at the new bids, that’s a big number,” she told the Selectboard last week.
“This is not an easy decision,” said Selectboard Chair Barry Del Castilho.
According to Butler, the road is in terrible condition, with the section from the town line to the cemetery being most in need of repair.
“It is one of the town’s highest priorities,” she said in an interview after the meeting.
Butler suggested the Selectboard could vote to complete the project, but on a smaller scale. Alternatively, she said the town could wait on the project and put it out to bid again in the spring.
Selectboard member Clint Phillips said if the board scaled the project down now, residents will shake their heads in a couple years when they continue the project.
“It could cost more money to maintain it,” Phillips added. “I think we should swallow the hard pill.”
Additionally, if the board chose to wait until spring, the town would be unable to use Winter Recovery Assistance Program (WRAP) funding from the state. These funds, totaling about $141,000, must be spent before June 30, 2023.
The rest of the money for the project will come from Chapter 90 funding in the amount of $224,000, and $75,000 will come from a road repair fund that is contributed to annually with Annual Town Meeting approval. After paying for the project, $60,000 will be left in each account.
“The road is not going to get any better,” Butler said. “If we can afford to do it, I know the people who use that road regularly will be pleased with this decision.”
Bella Levavi can be reached at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.