End in sight for four years of dirty, noisy, Routes 5 and 10 project

Work proceeds last week on the final phase of the Hatfield sewer and water project on Routes 5 and 10.

Work proceeds last week on the final phase of the Hatfield sewer and water project on Routes 5 and 10. STAFF PHOTO/CAROL LOLLIS

Executive Office of Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao, left, joins with Hatfield Select Board Chairwoman Diana Szynal, state Sen. Jo Comerford and state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa to mark the looming end of the Routes 5 and 10 water and sewer project on Friday.

Executive Office of Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao, left, joins with Hatfield Select Board Chairwoman Diana Szynal, state Sen. Jo Comerford and state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa to mark the looming end of the Routes 5 and 10 water and sewer project on Friday. STAFF PHOTO/SCOTT MERZBACH

Hatfield Select Board Chairwoman Diana Szynal, left, and board memebr Greg Gagnon, show Executive Office of Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao work on the Routes 5 and 10 water and sewer project on Friday.

Hatfield Select Board Chairwoman Diana Szynal, left, and board memebr Greg Gagnon, show Executive Office of Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao work on the Routes 5 and 10 water and sewer project on Friday. STAFF PHOTO/SCOTT MERZBACH

Hatfield Select Board Chairwoman Diana Szynal, left, and board memebr Greg Gagnon, show Executive Office of Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao work on the Routes 5 and 10 water and sewer project on Friday.

Hatfield Select Board Chairwoman Diana Szynal, left, and board memebr Greg Gagnon, show Executive Office of Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao work on the Routes 5 and 10 water and sewer project on Friday. STAFF PHOTO/SCOTT MERZBACH

By SCOTT MERZBACH

Staff Writer

Published: 10-11-2024 5:44 PM

HATFIELD — Four years of water and sewer infrastructure upgrades on Routes 5 and 10, creating constant noise, dust and assorted other problems for residents and businesses along the state highway, is approaching the finish line.

With a project described by Select Board Chairwoman Diana Syznal as a marathon rather than a sprint, town and state officials Friday morning marked the nearly complete $5.4 million project, supported with $3.8 million from the MassWorks Infrastructure Grant program. The brief celebration was held on the grounds of the USA Waste & Recycling headquarters at 77 West St., a property in the midst of the work zone.

Although it was unclear when exactly the project would be wrapped up, officials were optimistic and sought to mollify long-suffering residents.

“To say that this project has been disruptive would be an understatement,” Szynal said. “We can’t thank the residents enough for their patience.”

The event came as part of a tour of various capital projects  throughout western Massachusetts by Executive Office of Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao, who was accompanied by Undersecretary Ashley Stolba and Jong Wai Tommee, the program manager for MassWorks and Anne Gobi, the state’s director of Rural Affairs. Hao was also scheduled to be in Sunderland, Deerfield and Amherst, as well as at the University of Massachusetts.

Hao said the Hatfield project, like others, was a significant opportunity for the state, which is looking to partner on additional economic development initiatives.

“Fixing water and sewer is kind of hard, but when you do it, great things happen,” Hao said.

The project, spearheaded by general contractor Geeleher Enterprises Inc., extends water and sewer service along Routes 5 and 10 in an area that is zoned industrial and light industrial and is a main commercial section of the town, although there are also a number of residences. The sewer service will be extended along the state highway from Linseed Road to Rocks Road, and the water service continued for 1,200 feet along the same road, south of Rocks Road.

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The improvements — including a gravity sewer, a pump station, and a force main to convey wastewater from the project area to the town’s existing sewer system — already have produced tangible economic benefits. Those include the expansion of StiebelEltron, the worldwide manufacturer and supplier of central heating products; the expansion of Scapes Builders & Excavation LLC; and the continuation of business for Brockway Smith, the leading millwork distributor in the Northeast, which now be able to connect to the town’s sewer system rather than needing to replace its septic system.

Residents, too, will be able to tie in their homes to the sewer lines and abandon their aging septic systems. 

Szynal said the project was “a big lift for a little town,” with benefits also including enhanced fire protection along the West Street corridor and protecting the town’s aquifer through replacement of failing septic systems.

Hatfield received its initial $2 million MassWorks grant in 2019, contributing $1.6 million in local funds. But during the initial gravity sewer installation, a combination of soil conditions and high groundwater levels created an unstable trench, requiring alternative drainage engineering  and pushing construction costs higher. This prompted the town to seek and receive an additional $1.5 million from the MassWorks grant program in October 2022.

Then, in 2023, a change order for the subsurface lift station was required to address property owner concerns about its location which, when combined with another increase in construction costs, led to an additional $300,000 state allocation.

State Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, said the support from the Healey-Driscoll administration for these types of projects represents the continued promise of economic development and improving the tax base, even in small towns. 

Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, D-Northampton, said it took a chorus of people to ensure the project got to completion.

Szynal observed that the project was first contemplated in 2016 and got support from former Housing and Economic Development Directors Jay Ash and Mike Kennealy; that Select Board member Ed Jaworksi has kept an eye on project and been regularly in touch with residents; and that Select Board member Greg Gagnon has done traffic details. Szynal also thanked Town Administrator Marlene Michonski and Department of Public Works Director Phil Genoveze for their work, along with police and fire personnel, reflecting on their response to a major gas line break in 2021.

Residents who were present — having been invited to the celebration that included cider doughnuts and apple cider — received applause and recognition from the state leaders for what they have experienced, but said they were disappointed they couldn’t ask questions about the status of the project, and also lamented that it has been going on for too long.

Frustrated residents declined to be quoted, but noted a range of problems that have occurred over the years compromising their quality of life, including the contractor often leaving the road in rough shape, causing noise from passing vehicles around the clock; the loud generator to power the dewatering pumps; along with the significant amount of dust and occasional low water pressure in their homes.

“We are almost there, I promise you,” Szynal said, emphasizing that residents’ patience is appreciated.

Before a ribbon-cutting capped off the event, Comerford presented medals to state and local officials, similar to what Olympic athletes might earn. Each necklace held a medal reading on one side “Hatfield water sewer champion” and on the other “MassWorks $3.8 million.” Comerford said the medals not only recognize the completion of the project, but serve to remind state officials of the importance of state support to communities in her district.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.