North Adams Airport Encourage Early Construction Start
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Airport Commission urged contractors to start construction on Phase 2 of the apron project as soon as possible.
The commission asked Gale Associates representative Erik Strand on Tuesday to recommend to the contractors to begin work in May as soon as they can.
"I would like them to know how the commission feels," Airport Manager Bill Greenwald said. "They shouldn't think there is any wiggle room at all."
Strand said the final work for Phase 1 should start in early May. He said the contractors anticipate a mid to late May start for Phase 2, but even if they get pushed out to June they should still have plenty of warm weather to complete paving.
Chairman Jeff Naughton said Strand has been in contact with contractors and has encouraged an early start.
"We have been stressing the importance to them, and ... the urgency to get this started in May. The sooner the better," Naughton said. "Like every project, we have done over there we have run into something that is unexpected and that means longer times so the earlier we get started the better off."
Strand said there are plans to correct some grading issues in front of one of the hangers. Because of miscommunication, the area was never graded properly and it floods.
Commissioner Trevor Gilman said the miscommunication came from confusion caused by the airport tenants directly contacting the contractors and engineers.
"I'm tired of the direct communication between the contractors, the engineers, and the tenants," Gilman said. "I think it is good to make the tenants happy, but there should be no decisions made directly between the engineers and the tenants where the commission is totally out of the loop."
Greenwald agreed and said the tenants have been informed that if they have an issue they should contact him first. If Greenwald cannot remedy it, he will pass it along the commission, which can communicate with the engineers.
"What I have said to the tenants is that they have no bearings with the engineers, but they have a lot of bearing with the commission and the manager," he said.
Strand said it will not be an issue going forward and he will meet with contractors next week to fix it.
While changing the grading, Greenwald suggested improving an open area near the hanger where hang gliders and maintenance equipment is often stored. He recommended putting some sort of packed material to cut down on mud.
Naughton suggested maybe planting some grass on the area.
The commissioners agreed to look at the area and make a decision during a preconstruction conference next week
"I will take a look at it and we can come up with a plan that is best for all parties," Strand said.
Greenwald attributed the airport's low fuel costs to an increase in traffic. He said people love the facility.
"We went through 4,000 gallons of fuel ... and we attracted an awful lot of business," he said. "I heard from many people about how impressed they were with our facility. They spent a lot of money in town at restaurants and museums and they said they want to be regulars."
He added that preconstruction work on the new administration building has begun and the soil was recently tested.
"I did not here the results but there is no anticipation of problems there," Greenwald said.
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