Capital committee reviews plan to fill $10 million gap for Surfside roads project; bids open April 23

The Capital Program Committee heard March 5 that the Surfside area roads reconstruction project is now out to bid and faces a funding shortfall the town proposes to fill with reallocated capital balances, a Chapter 90 allocation and PFAS-related funds. Drew Patnode, a department staff presenter, told the committee the project will open for bids on April 23.

Patnode said the construction estimate is $23,500,000 with a 5 percent contingency ($1,100,000). He listed additional line items the committee was shown: about $400,000 for utility relocations, roughly $53,000 for easement payments to abutters, and a $750,000 construction-administration estimate from GPI, the design firm. An amendment to finalize plans and address contaminated soils also increased costs. "I am happy to report, as of today, the project is out to bid, which is a a pretty, a pretty significant milestone," Patnode said.

Patnode said the capital appropriation available for the project is just under $16,000,000, leaving the town nearly $10,000,000 short of the roughly $26,050,000 total budget being proposed. To close the gap, staff proposed using available balances from previously appropriated capital articles for roadway, sidewalk and cobblestone work, combined with about $3,200,000 in Chapter 90 funds through MassDOT and nearly $500,000 in town PFAS-related funding to address contaminated soils near the airport, which together bring the project budget to slightly above the estimated need.

Committee members pressed staff on pacing and capacity. Patnode said the island has limited paving capacity — "one asphalt plant, one asphalt paving contractor" — and that other municipal and private projects will compete for construction resources this year and into the fall. He also said the project is heavy on drainage and earthwork: of the $23.575 million construction estimate, roughly $11 million is drainage work, $8 million is earthwork/clearing, about $600,000 is signage and miscellaneous items, and roughly $4 million is paving.

Members asked about signage design and coordination with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. John Kitchener requested that Patnode circle back with BPAC so on-island signage and bike-path treatments are coordinated; Patnode said he meets weekly with Public Works staff and would reach out to BPAC. Committee members also discussed the trade-off of transferring paving funds from other projects and the risk that bid results could exceed staff estimates when bids are opened.

Patnode and committee members said they would report back after bids open on April 23 and, if warranted, provide updated costs and schedule to the committee and the public.

The presentation was informational; no Capital Program Committee vote on transferring funds was recorded at the March 5 meeting.