New England 6, March 15, 2023

Workers are widening bridges on three major projects in central Maine.

By Chuck MacDonald CEG CORRESPONDENT

Accessibility is an important aspect of all travel, and that especially holds true for coastal Maine.

Tourism in Maine is extremely important, accounting for approximately $4.9 billion to Maine’s economy each year.

So, it’s important to maintain proper access through its most populated areas. To facilitate continued access through the state, the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) advertised three bundled bridge projects, which will enhance the Interstate 295 corridor in coastal Maine by widening several bridges on/over I-295 to improve vehicular, pedestrian

see BRIDGES page 12

New Study Shows Boston to Manchester Rail Service Could Cost $782M to Build

Restoring commuter rail service from Boston through Manchester, N.H., would cost $782 million to build and $17 million a year to operate, according to a new draft study done for the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT).

Claiming fares could cover 82 percent of that operating budget, the 80-page consultant’s report concludes, and the annual state taxpayer subsidy could be as low as $200,000 and as high as $3.5 million, depending on how people many use the service.

According to a Feb. 26 news story in the New Hampshire Union Leader, the report assumes host communities would spend up to $63 million to build new train stations south of Granite Street in Manchester, as well as a layover train facility, and a train station on Crown Street near downtown Nashua.

Both cities would spend about $200,000 annually to run those facilities, the report read.

single drum vibratory, good rubber, like new condition..............................................$64,500

c/air, hi flow hyds, 2 speed, forestry package, new tracks, 84” bucket........

stk# 26327, 653 Hrs, ROPS, Deutz diesel,

2018 HAMM H7I

2014 DEERE 60G stk# 27845, 1400 hrs, hyd thumb, 24" bucket.. $66,500

2018 DEERE 50G

Cat power, 6'5" 15mm drum, rigid conveyor, 60% bottoms, good belting with grade, stk# 26377................................................$125.000

2010 WIRTGEN 2100

2019 JOHN DEERE 333G

stk# 27812, 3300 hrs, skid steer cplr, coupler, 1yd bucket............................................$63,500

2015 DEERE 204K 2300 hours, push blade, hyd thumb, 80% tracks, Stk#27970................................$42,500

2012 DEERE 35D

2008 ROADTEC RP190 stk# 27922, 1493 hrs,..........................$23,500

C/air, angle blade, hyd thumb, 24" bucket, new tracks, Stk#27764................................$67,500

1771 hours, stk# 27248......................$89,500

2015 JOHN DEERE 75G

stk# 27123,

$79,500

OPRROOVVEN U WITH UPTI

PTIME IME KITS

SENNEBOGEN, in kee philosophy to maxim created UPTIME Kits

n-house or on the everything you e, maintenance place. They were ime and money. of related service d nuts to O-Rings omes easy with a o order and stock :kits

Easy e for (TCO) Ownership of thinki We’re equipment.

They are: rain e • T ervic ts • S Par

order and par ing • Application Special customer very to machine” the “beyond ng

stocking NEBOGENNN BOGEN SEN ctor suppor xible Financing lists • Fle

• Hydraulic service k

D T shops ols ervice owing kits system kits nance service kits its kits

trucks Choose a uptime dependable deliver througho t ttachments • A

Cost Total lower and its of life the out

And the best thing is in stock and ready to built to match your m and series. Count on in-house. For more in UPTIME Kits, scan th a more Learn

Federal Funds Will Upgrade Vermont’s Missisquoi Rail Trail

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) recently announced that it received $1.44 million in federal funds to rehabilitate the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail (MVRT), extending one of the largest trail systems in the Northeast United States.

The monies came to VTrans through earmarks secured by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

The trail stretches from St. Albans to Richford in the northwest corner of the state, with the 26.1-mi. route passing through forests, farmland, and several cities, towns and villages.

“This trail opened back in the ’90s, and we continue to make investments in it to keep it a viable recreational opportunity for the state of Vermont,” Daniel Delabruere, the rail and aviation bureau director at VTrans, told WCAX-TV in Burlington.

Once the upgrade is complete, the MVRT will connect to the nearly finished 96-mi. Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, and Canada’s trail network, creating one of the largest regional trail networks in this part of the country, according to VTrans.

“There’s no direct trailhead-to-trailhead access [to Canada], but it brings you to Richford, a Canadian border custom crossing,” Delabruere said.

Towns Along Trail Hoping for More Visitors

WCAX-TV reported that officials of municipalities along the Missisquoi trail corridor believe the project will lead to more economic development opportunities for their communities, something they are looking forward to after having to deal with the pandemic and its lingering impacts for three years.

“This is an area that is heavily dependent upon tourism, especially coming from the north,” explained Swanton Town

Administrator Brian Savage. “COVID really shut things down and it was felt on both sides of the border.”

With the international border open again, Savage said his neighbors are hoping the MVRT can help make up for some of the economic loss from the pandemic.

“The connection of the MVRT to Canada has always been special,” noted Chip Sawyer, the director of planning and development for St. Albans, in speaking with the Burlington TV station. “I think it might just organically lead to more people thinking,

Simplicity Appoints John Skawinski as Its New Territory Sales Representative

Due to the growing business over the past two years, Simplicity Equipment and Service has named John Skawinski as a territory sales representative.

The Rhode Island native joins Simplicity and will represent the Westfield, Mass., company covering Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. The announcement was made by Simplicity’s General Manager Joe Collazo III.

“Besides John’s vast experience in different industries, he has spent his entire career in the Northeast, so he knows the challenges New England municipalities, private material processers and large corporate material handling companies have to deal with,” said Collazo.

“With all the opportunities that are arising in northern New England, we needed someone with John’s heavy machinery experience to serve our customers that live in harsh climates and also deal with extremely challenging materials.”

Skawinski joins an established sales

team and will be working on all aspects of the business in his assigned states.

Previously, he was the owner of New England Crushing Service where he did everything from running his organization to servicing and repairing heavy machinery.

“I am really excited to enter my new position and begin leading the sales

organization. We are a young and growing dealership and our customers have really supported us which is great to see,” said Skawinski.

“We have great brand partners and looking to add more to our portfolio. It is an exciting time to be in this business and with Simplicity.”

Simplicity Engineering, now Simplicity Equipment & Service, was founded in 1997 with Ryan Cullen acquiring ownership in 2020. The Westfield, Mass., firm offers namebrand equipment such as Komptech, R. D. Olson, Portafill, Indeco Breakers, Corrosion Engineering, Dymax and MGL Engineering.

Besides also renting heavy equipment, Simplicity has beefed up its mobile service department with several new professionals and a new fleet of mobile service vehicles. SE offers service on all makes and models in its shop and on job sites.

For more information, call 800/5536190 or visit www.SimplicityNE.com.

‘I’m going to take a trip [to] St. Albans, I’m going to start it or end there, and spend part of my day in the downtown as well.’”

Re-Surfacing to Make Up Most Work

Delabruere explained that although there is no major construction that must take place to improve the MVRT, the VTrans effort will likely take a few years to complete.

“What this project is going to do is rehabilitate that old surface with a new surface — same product, just new — and we are also going to extend the project just slightly from where it now ends in St. Albans. We’re going to take it a little bit farther, a little closer to downtown on lower Newton Street.”

Sawyer told WCAX-TV that the MVRT has always been an important recreational resource for his city.

“Having an extension of the trail deeper into the city means that we can possibly make a stronger and easier connection for even more people or families to bike and walk right through downtown,” he said.

Delabruere added that the upkeep of the MVRT and Vermont’s entire network of trails will continue to remain a top priority for the state transportation agency. 

John Skawinski

“Having an extension of the trail deeper into the city means that we can possibly make a stronger and easier connection for even more people or families to bike and walk right through downtown.”

Chip Sawyer St. Albans Director of Planning and Development

For Rail Work, N.H. Would Pay $185M; Mass. Would Pay $125M

RAIL from page 1

In addition, the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport would operate and maintain a third train station nearby in Bedford, N.H.

NHDOT would pay to build and run the southernmost train station next to the Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua, close to the Massachusetts border, according to the Union Leader.

“The proposed schedule in southern New Hampshire includes 16 trips in each direction on weekdays – and roughly half that number on weekends and holidays — with an estimated travel time between Manchester and Boston North Station of one hour, 25 minutes to one hour, 30 minutes,” according to the study done by AECOM Technical Services of Manchester.

New Hampshire’s share of construction costs would be up to $185 million, while the state of Massachusetts would pay for about $125 million in upgrades to the 9.5-mi.length of tracks from Lowell to Nashua.

Federal grants would cover at least 55 percent of all construction costs, the report said.

Four Years Needed for Ridership to Mature

The Union Leader obtained a copy of the study that New Hampshire Transportation Commissioner Bill Cass delivered to the state Executive Council, Gov. Chris Sununu, and legislative leaders in February.

It concludes that once rail service is opened in 2030, four years would be needed for ridership to reach full levels due to the impact of COVID-19.

In response to the pandemic, the number of citizens taking trains to work across the United States dropped dramatically as more Americans worked from home. For example, there are only 58 percent as many people taking the train from Lowell, Mass., to Boston every day as did back in 2018.

The study promotes a “medium pandemic impact” scenario that 75 percent of riders would end up taking the Boston-Manchester train compared to the level that had been expected prior to COVID-19.

If this proves to be the case, New Hampshire’s taxpayer cost to run the service

Acadia National Park to Receive $33M for Upgrade Projects

The National Park Service (NPS) will invest $32.6 million to demolish outdated structures and build new maintenance facilities at Acadia National Park headquarters, Mainebiz reported Feb. 22.

Funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), the project will provide park staff with enhanced facilities to better serve visitors and protect park resources.

Nickerson & O’Day Inc., a Bangor contractor, was awarded the job and is expected to start this spring, with completion expected in fall 2024.

The project will eliminate $4.4 million from deferred maintenance and repairs, NPS noted in a press release.

The new maintenance operations complex is slated to be built at Acadia’s McFarland Hill headquarters on approximately 10 acres.

The contractor will demolish more than 20,000 sq. ft. of park structures that are considered unsafe, Mainebiz noted, and crews will build rooms for shops and a place to service equipment. In addition, the plan includes new restrooms, offices, storage areas, locker rooms, a break room, conference rooms, utility support spaces, a fuel station, vehicle storage, employee/staff parking and a wash bay.

NPS noted the construction will result in lower costs to heat and cool the new spaces, a decrease in fuel consumption, protection for equipment from the elements and improved accessibility within the Acadia complex.

Mainebiz noted that many park partnership programs operate out of the maintenance buildings, including volunteer programs that help maintain trails and historic carriage roads.

“It is impossible to overstate the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to operate a national park,” Acadia National Park Superintendent Kevin Schneider said in the NPS news release. “Acadia’s maintenance team works tirelessly to preserve roads and trails, conserve historic carriage roads and stone bridges, keep visitor centers clean and operational, [and] manage construction projects. The list goes on and on.”

The current buildings no longer meet the park’s needs, he explained, adding they are structurally unsound, undersized and inadequate for the workload, particularly given the considerable growth of the park’s staff,

operations and visitation since the facility was built in the 1960s. The 150 people based at the site must use portable restrooms and temporary trailers to compensate.

Park Must Stay Ahead of Growing Popularity

Acadia National Park protects the natural beauty of the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coastline of the United States and features an abundance of rich habitats. It is found along the mid-section of the

Maine coast, southwest of Bar Harbor. The park preserves about half of Mount Desert Island, part of the Isle au Haut, the tip of the Schoodic Peninsula, and portions of 16 smaller outlying islands.

In the last 10 years, park visitation has grown by an estimated 70 percent, according to NPS. In 2021, Acadia had 4.1 million visitors who spent an estimated $486 million and supported over 6,800 jobs and $702 million in economic output in the region.

The federal GAOA law, which Congress passed in 2020, is a conservation bill that includes $9.5 billion over five years to help catch up on a $12 billion maintenance backlog at all national parks.

Supported by revenue from energy development, GAOA’s Legacy Restoration Fund provides the NPS with up to $1.3 billion annually for five years to make significant enhancements in national parks to ensure their preservation and provide opportunities for recreation, education, and enjoyment for current and future visitors. 

Feds Award Grant for Hingham Ferry Dock Upgrades

A $6.6 million Federal Transit Authority (FTA) grant recently was awarded to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) for capital improvements to the ferry dock at the Hingham Shipyard, southeast of Boston.

The ferry provides a key service link between the South Shore communities along Boston Harbor, and Massachusetts’ largest city.

The Hingham Anchor reported the money will be used to modernize the dock, improve its safety and accessibility, and bring the facility into a state of good repair while enhancing the experience of commuters and improving the reliability and resiliency of the popular mode of transportation.

“This is a significant amount of money to invest in the ferry dock, especially when a few years ago [state] Rep. Joan Meschino and I were on a call with the MBTA talking about potentially reducing or removing ferry service [from the Shipyard],” Sen. Patrick O’Connor told the Anchor. “This grant shows us how far we have come.”

He noted that the ferry provided service to more than half-million passengers annually before the COVID-19 pandemic, “and the number of riders is starting to pick up again.”

Important Ferry Dock to Be Completely Modernized

The construction and rehabilitation project at the Hingham Shipyard will replace the existing dock with one that is permanent and will include a fully accessible and covered gangway and canopy. In addition, lighting, safety and security systems will all be upgraded, and a generator will be installed to supply full backup power to the dock and the nearby Hingham Intermodal Center during power outages.

MBTA said the design work for the ferry dock project is expected to be complete by the end of 2023, with construction slated to begin in 2024.

“This will be a state-of-the art project that will enhance the experience for commuters who take the ferry [to Boston for] work or for fun,” explained O’Connor. “Using federal dollars to make these repairs is a great opportunity, [and] this investment in the Hingham dock will benefit all the South Shore commuters who use this service.”

The funding comes as part of the FTA’s Fiscal 2022 Passenger Ferry Grant Program, which commits to enhancing and revitalizing public ferry systems in the nation’s urbanized areas. The federal agency awarded more than $380 million in competitive funding to ferry projects through three dis-

cretionary grant programs, with the MBTA receiving the passenger ferry program’s largest award in the nation.

“We are thrilled to be awarded this grant for capital improvements to the Hingham ferry dock, which furthers our commitment to improving passenger safety and maintaining a state of good repair across our system,” MBTA Interim General Manager Jeffrey Gonneville told the Anchor. “This funding is the result of the MBTA’s aggressive strategy in seeking federal discretionary funds and also serves as a critical component of our wider efforts to ensure our system maintains our priority of safety.”

The Hingham news source noted that MBTA is building the new dock to not only increase the capacity of the South Shore ferry service but make it more resilient against severe weather and climate change.

As the work gets under way, commuters will be able to see firsthand “in a transparent manner how these resources will be used to make the experience better for all involved,” O’Connor said.

“I’m so happy this project is moving forward,” he added. “It’s a great kick-start to the new year, with the hope of bringing more state and federal funding resources to the South Shore in the future.”

The new maintenance operations complex is slated to be built at Acadia’s McFarland Hill headquarters on approximately 10 acres.

Rendering courtesy of the National Park Service

The existing floating dock and access gangways will be upgraded to improve rider experience and bring them into compliance with updated accessibility standards.

Photo courtesy of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

Leaders Question Pricetag of Rail Project, Need for Service

RAIL from page 6

would start at $14 million in 2031 but drop to $200,000 by 2034.

In the event the ridership has a “high pandemic impact,” then those taking the train will only be 58 percent of those levels expected prior to COVID-19.

This would mean the cost to run the rail service would start at $17 million in the first year before dropping to $3.5 million by 2035, the study noted.

Executive Councilor David Wheeler, RMilford, and a longtime opponent of the project, said the construction price tag has gotten much higher than earlier studies showed.

“I was expecting a financial boondoggle and that is exactly [what] the plan has come up with in my view,” Wheeler said.

He said Nashua taxpayers would have to finance at least $21 million in station construction costs.

“I think people are going to get sticker shock when they realize how much this will cost them in higher property taxes,” Wheeler said.

Legislative Backers Still Reviewing Report

Nashua and Manchester mayors, majorities on their town councils, and business leaders are prominent supporters of the project. In fact, officials in both cities are considering creating tax increment financing districts to help pay for the construction work.

A spokesperson for New Hampshire Senate Democratic Leader Donna Soucy of Manchester told the Union Leader that the senator had not seen the report but remains a strong “advocate” for it.

House Democratic Leader Matt Wilhelm of Manchester, who also has supported the project in the past, declined comment until he had reviewed the entire report.

However, Drew Cline, president of the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, a conservative think tank, said the ridership estimates were wildly optimistic.

“Who thinks it’s a good idea to spend $800 million to build commuter rail from a sparsely populated state to a shrinking city when the number of people who say they want to make a daily commute is also shrinking?” he asked rhetorically. 

2016 Hyundai HL980, 7000 Hours, 371HP Scania motor, 7.3 Yd Bucket, AC/Rear Camera, Load scale system, Powershift trans., 29.5 R25 tires 75% or better, Well maintained $189,000

2014 Link-Belt 300X3, 6100 Hours, Isuzu Tier 4 Engine, Heat/AC, Hyd. QC, 48" Bkt 2-Way Hyd. for shear/hammer, GPS capable $95,000

2012 CAT D6N XL, 7600 Hrs, Fleet maintained, Heat/AC, 6-way blade, long track frame, grade control system, GPS/UTS ready, mast & cables included, newer sprockets, u/c good..$124,500

2018 Deere 410L, 2600 Hours, Ride Control, Backhoe Pilot Controls, Powershift Trans., 2017 US EPA Label, QC, Diesel Exhaust Fluid Req., Hyd. Coupler,93" Loader Bucket, 24" Backhoe Digging Bucket, Rear Aux. Hydraulics..$99,000

2015 Kawasaki 90Z7, 9700 Hours, 5.5 Yd bucket, QSM11 Cummins motor, Rear camera, Heat/AC, 26.5 R25 tires 65% or better $139,000

2018 Deere 210G LC, 4000 hours, 36” bucket, QC, Hyd. Thumb, Aux hydraulics, Long undercarriage, Heat/AC, Clean Cab, Work ready $164,500

2018 Ford F550 XL Super Duty, 18,800 mi, 6.8 L gasoline engine, flatbed w/head rack & tool boxes, fifth wheel in bed $59,000

2020 Hitachi ZX135US-6, 1600 Hours, Aux. Hydraulics, QC, 24" Digging Bucket, Dozer Blade, Heat/AC, Work Ready $124,500

Bundled Bridge Projects to Enhance I-295 Corridor in Maine

and bicycle access through the area.

The three bridge projects are I-295 northbound and southbound over Route 1 in Yarmouth; the Approach Road and Merrill Road Bridges over I-295 in Freeport; and the Bucknam Road and Johnson Road Bridges over I-295 in Falmouth. The total cost of the three projects is approximately $73 million.

Devan Eaton is a senior project manager in the Bridge Program of MaineDOT.

“Many of our bridges over the interstate were built in the late 1950s and early 1960s and are in a deteriorated condition and need to be widened for capacity,” he said. “Several of the bridges in these projects carry a lot of foot traffic and bicyclists, and the widened bridges will enable safer access to businesses and residences in the area.”

Not only has the traffic load greatly increased over the years (now more than 20,000 vehicles per day on I-295) but the bridges also have been battered by winter storms and de-icing chemicals.

“We are taking steps to increase the life of the new bridges by including corrosion resistant reinforcement,” said Eaton. “We are using stainless steel and low-carbon chromium reinforcing in the structures, which both resist corrosion. We are also using additives in the concrete to help resist chloride infiltration.”

The structural steel girders will also be coated with a zinc-rich coating system that bonds to the steel and should provide longer life. Project designers project that these processes and materials will lead to a 100year life for the bridges.

The new taller, wider bridges will provide more room for snow storage on the structures and lessen the potential for strikes from taller vehicles traveling the roads underneath. State specifications define that

BRIDGES from page 1 see BRIDGES page 14

bridges on/over the interstate have a minimum vertical clearance of 15.5 ft., which many of the existing structures on the I-295 corridor do not meet.

In addition to dealing with wintry conditions, construction teams faced challenges with soft soils around the bridges. Often the coastal areas of Maine are covered with clays, particularly a soft bluish gray material that is especially common near the Presumpscot River. These clays are highly compressible, so to combat roadway settlement in specific locations, designers replaced standard gravels and fill material with lightweight materials to reduce loading.

“We decided to use ultra-lightweight foamed glass aggregate [ULFGA],” said

The Desert Road bridge takes shape in Freeport.

Construction teams use a crane to bring beams into place for the work on Desert Road in Freeport.

Workers pour concrete for the bridge pier in Freeport. Construction workers supervise the concrete pour for an abutment on the Freeport bridge project.

Work Involves Bridges in Yarmouth, Freeport, Falmouth

BRIDGES from page 12

Eaton. “This material has been used in locations on the projects with highly compressible soil. This material is fully encased within geotextile, and then capped with our typical roadway subbase materials, to prevent washouts of the lightweight materials.”

The clay soils are a continual challenge to builders.

“The clay can liquify and it generally gets worse the more you mess with it,” said Eaton.

The construction teams use retaining walls and temporary shoring to keep the clay in place. In many places the clays run more than 50-ft. deep. Bridge support systems (piles) were constructed to penetrate this clay layer and be driven to reach solid rock below.

Yarmouth Bridge Replacement

This project will replace two bridges that carry northbound and southbound I-295 traffic over Route 1 near exit 17 in Yarmouth. In addition to the bridge work, workers extended the Beth Condon Memorial Pathway, which runs under the bridges, along Route 1.

MaineDOT estimates that the project is approximately 40 percent complete. The project is scheduled to be finished by the end of November 2025.

The old bridge was more than 60 years old and had shown significant deterioration. The project will require 15,500 tons of asphalt for roadway work and approximately 3,400 cu. yds. of concrete. Composite bridge drains will reduce corrosion on materials used in the bridge deck.

The pedestrian and bicycle access through the area on Route 1 will be greatly improved. The wider structures on I-

295 will significantly improve vehicular safety. CPM Constructors from Freeport is the lead contractor for the work.

Freeport Bridges

The project will replace two bridges that span I-295, one at exit 20 (Merrill Rd.) and the other at exit 22 (Approach Rd.). These two bridges are more than 60 years old and do not meet the height requirement to accommodate today’s larger vehicles. Active bicycle and pedestrian traffic will have increased width for travel with the new bridges increasing safety for the users.

Each bridge will feature a 12-ft.-wide multiuse path that will tie into paths the town is planning to construct in the

future. The improved capacity of the new bridges also will allow larger loads to travel through the area.

MaineDOT estimates that the bridge work is approximately 25 percent complete. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of November 2025. McNamee Construction of Lincolndale, N.Y., is the contractor for this project.

Falmouth Bridges

The project will replace two bridges that span I-295, one at the exit 10 interchange (Bucknam Rd.), and the other just north at Johnson Road. The bridges are more than 60 years old and, although they meet legal limits, are below loading expectations for a structure over the interstate. Bucknam Road provides a route for pedestrians and cyclists through the area but is too narrow for safety in its existing condition. The design uses corrosion resistant reinforcing in the concrete and thermal spray coating on steel beams to increase structure life.

The steel from the old bridges will become the property of the contractor for recycling. The project requires approximately 4,600 tons of asphalt for the roadway work and 1,600 cu. yds. of concrete for bridge abutments, piers, bridge deck, slabs, curbs and sidewalks.

MaineDOT estimates that the bridge work is approximately 25 percent complete. The project is scheduled to be complete in December 2025. The contractor for this project is Wyman and Simpson from Richmond, Maine.  CEG (All photos courtesy of MaineDOT.)

Workers secure beams on Desert Road in Freeport. Workers remove a beam during night work on the Freeport bridge project.

Workers supervise pile driving for bridge in Freeport.

A construction worker checks the piles on one of the Freeport bridges.

John Deere 450D LC VG | North Franklin