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Date: 9/4/2015
CHICOPEE – The completion of the repairs to Dale Street should be seen before Thanksgiving, according to Jeffry Neece, superintendent of the Department of Public Works.
Neece was responding to a question asked him recently by Ward 1 City Councilor Adam Lamontagne.
Lamontagne wrote, “As you are aware from the meeting at the Willimansett Heights Hall on June 29 my constituents and those of nearby wards are distressed by the fact that there has not been a final overlay of Dale Street improving this highly traveled key street.”
He continued, “For at least four years, the neighborhoods have suffered potholes and grading which has damaged their cars and trucks. The main business – Mike’s Variety Store – has be subjected to a series of total blockades and now a continuing poor road which causes customers to avoid Dale Street in favor of going through lower Willimansett and over Granby Road to avoid the mess. The protracted Grattan Street project and Dale Street has adversely affected Wards 1, 6, 7, 8 and 9 as well. The complaints from the constituents are increasing and are justifiable.”
Lamontagne asserted the project was promised to have been completed by the start of the school year.
Neece, however, explained to Reminder Publications, he does not know of any promise to have the project done by that time. He said during the design phase the scope of the project increased when drainage issues were discovered and had to be included.
A further hold-up was the receipt of Chapter 90 funding from the state before the city could go out to bid for the project.
“It’s a process,” Neece said. “Municipal purchasing takes a long time, bidding slows things.