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Consultants outline Narrows force‑main schedule, warn MassDOT borings and Minet Road timing could affect costs
Summary
Town consultants told commissioners Jan. 8 they are targeting summer design completion for the Narrows force‑main (Sandwich Road alignment), but MassDOT soil‑boring approvals and coordination with planned Minet Road work will determine whether phases two and three can be accelerated and whether seven‑figure cost savings are achievable.
At a workshop session Jan. 8, Russ (EDR), the project consultant, presented a revised schedule and draft warrant language for the Narrows force‑main project and cautioned that pending MassDOT approvals for soil borings are a gating item for final pricing.
"The borings don't do a ton of direction for the design itself — it's more for the contractor," Russ said, noting the team has survey data and is proceeding with drawings while awaiting borings required for contract exhibits.
Russ and other consultants explained why the Sandwich Road alignment is preferred: it reduces the number of deep, complex crossings beneath the railroad and river, and it produces a straighter alignment that lowers pump requirements. They recommended convening municipal maintenance, the water department and the town manager to coordinate design timelines so sewer, drainage, water and roadway work can be bid together and avoid later re‑excavation.
The consultants said combining the sewer work with planned Minet Road drainage/overlay work could produce substantial savings — potentially in the low seven figures — but stressed that the magnitude depends on Minet Road's design and bidding timeline and whether the two projects' schedules can be aligned.
Consultants also summarized preliminary hydraulic modeling and outfall options reviewed with GHD and Woods Hole. Jim Churchill of Woods Hole and GHD modelers reported that preliminary results suggest a nearer Narrows outfall option could avoid the need for an extended ocean outfall. One participant noted earlier regional estimates of about $91 million; another offhand reference to a larger, earlier figure was clarified in discussion. The consultant team emphasized the modeling is preliminary and further analysis is planned.
The workshop closed with requests that the town manager (Derek Sullivan) and municipal maintenance attend follow‑up coordination meetings, that the design team provide target completion and bid‑start dates for phases one and two, and that the CWMP implementation group meet in February to set scope and meeting frequency.
