Underwood Engineers updates Bristol Select Board on Central Street pump station: $3.6M budget, August substantial completion date

Steve Smith, senior technical leader and project manager with Underwood Engineers, told the Bristol Select Board on April 16 that construction of the towns new Central Street sewer pump station is underway and remains on a schedule that targets substantial completion on Aug. 7 and final completion on Sept. 18, 2026. The project was awarded to Sargent Corporation following a public bid process.Smith said the decision to replace the existing facility rather than rehabilitate it was made during final design and that the existing station, built in 1967, now handles roughly 200,000 gallons per day. He described deep excavation work (bottom of the wet well near 20 feet), ledge blasting, and dewatering activities that have occurred during winter construction.

Smith outlined the projects funding package and major contract amounts. He said the town secured roughly $2.0 million through Rural Development (a loan that typically requires the town to use interim financing and be reimbursed on the back end), approximately $1.65 million in grant funds (including CDFA and CDBG awards), and a town contribution of just over $40,000, yielding a project funding total just under $3.6 million. Engineering and design are budgeted at about $626,000, the construction contract with Sargent Corporation is just under $2.8 million, and the project includes a $200,000 contingency and a $25,000 CDBG administration fee.

On construction progress, Smith said crews completed significant concrete work on the wet well and valve vault, the new force main is being installed using HDPE piping and horizontal directional drilling, and the contractor has placed roughly 140 feet of pipe so far. He described measures used to protect concrete pours during winter conditions, that a hydrostatic test of the structure showed no leaks, and that the demolition of the old pump station will remove the structure to roughly 3 feet below grade before backfilling with crushed gravel.

Board members asked about traffic impacts, timing for paving and access, and coordination with the police department. Smith said the contractor complied with a request to avoid Summer Street construction before 8 a.m. to reduce community disruption. He also noted directional drilling on Summer Street was the most technically challenging portion because of congested underground utilities, but that drilling will deepen as it proceeds toward Merrimack Street, reducing that risk.

The presentation emphasized long-term benefits: reduced pump short-cycling because the new wet-well volume is larger, corrosion-resistant HDPE force main material, and the use of chopper pumps to reduce rag-related issues. The chair and other members thanked Underwood Engineers for the update and expressed appreciation for efforts to minimize public disruption. The board closed the hearing portion of the presentation after public questions and comments.