Construction activities outside of wetland areas continue to progress while the project team awaits a decision from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on a Superseding Order of Conditions. Maine Drilling and Blasting (MDB), the blasting subcontractor for the project began blasting on 10/12/2023 within the new parking lot area of the project site. MDB are currently working in a West (Farm St. side) to East (NEMT side) direction.
Leading up to the start of blasting work, MDB installed five seismograph instruments to measure and record the ground and air vibrations for each blast at the following locations: 7 June Circle, 9 Stone Way, NEMT, Wakefield High School, and the WMGLD Substation. Blasting operations are scheduled to continue through the end of January 2024 with 1-2 blasts occurring each day. J.R. Vinagro, the sitework subcontractor is in the process of hammering the blasted rock/ledge to 24 inches or less in size and will mobilize rock crushing machinery in mid-November to repropose the blasted material into structural fill. As a reminder, those who would like to signup for pre-blast notifications can call Esta Falvey, Maine Drilling & Blasting at 508-478-0273). A pre-blast notification text will be issued to those who have signed up prior to each blast.
Gilbane Building Company continues with the subcontractor procurement process with the goal of executing a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) by early 2024.