Roadwork Highlights Development Plans

Director of Community Development Glenn Clancy appeared before the Board of Selectmen  Aug. 16 meeting to request awarding a contract to Bridges, LLC for the latest pavement improvement project that includes the reconstruction of upper Concord Avenue from Pleasant Street to Mill Street.

The board unanimously voted to award the contract to Bridges, LLC for $1,297,822 – the lowest bid. The engineers' estimate of the project was $1,842,506.

The work will include the installation of approximately 2,220 feet of 12-inch storm drain and either the resettling or new installation of granite curbing from Pleasant Street to Somerset Street to help curtail drainage problems.

The new storm drain, Clancy said, will allow the capturing of surface and ground water and the curbing will allow control of the flow of surface water. Most of the existing sidewalk will be broken up during the roadway reconstruction and will be replaced.

The project will also include reconstruction of Grove Street, Fairview Avenue to Belmont Street, School Street to Grove Street and a segment of Leonard Avenue.

Clancy also outlined plans for the initial phase of Belmont Center improvements that will be done by BSC Group. 

The project will have eight alternatives of different sets of vehicular traffic circulation patterns that are possible in the area that will address parking, pedestrians, bicycles, green space, enhancing the appearance of the center and making it a more desirable destination for residents and businesses. Those alternatives will eventually be boiled down to two.

"We'll set up a concept the community can get behind and then come back before the Board of Selectmen for approval," Clancy said.

Selectmen said Clancy provided a very comprehensive proposal and will discuss ways to finance the project with him well before the start of 2011.

Another update Clancy provided was on replacing the Beaver Brook culvert on Trapelo Road. Replacing the structure conveying the brook at the Waltham city line – approximately 100 years old and made of fieldstone walls with a top of granite slabs -- is a matter of public safety, Clancy said.

It's a shared structure with Waltham and he has met with city officials to discuss Waltham's contribution to culvert improvements.

On Monday afternoon, Clancy learned Waltham will not commit to helping finance the reconstruction work. Therefore, he said, he needs town funds to move the design effort for the project forward.

After the meeting, Clancy said he will have a table at Meet Belmont, scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 26 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Chenery Middle School.

He won't bring pencils, pads or have any fanfare whatsoever but said he will be available to simply talk with residents about Belmont's roads.