FOREST HILLS—Demolition of the Casey Overpass and construction of a new surface street network has been pushed back by a longer-than-expected bidding process.
Demolition was first planned to begin this fall. But 11 construction contracts will go out to bid next month. They include contracts for roofing and flashing work, masonry work, painting, electrical work, ironwork and metal window work.
State Department of Transportation (MassDOT) spokesperson Michael Verseckes told the Gazette that, because the project is overseen by three departments within MassDOT—Highway, MBTA and Capital Asset Management—some of the contracts had to be sub-bid, which led to the delay.
“The bids for the Highway portion of the project, as well as the rest of the sub-bid portions, are scheduled to be opened on Oct. 21,” Verseckes said.
It is unclear what the project’s schedule will be, or if will meet its planned completion date of September 2016.
According to the project team, the federal funds that will pay for the project expire at that time. Verseckes previously told the Gazette that there is a chance that deadline could be missed. However, that does not mean the whole project would be compromised. If the project misses that crucial deadline, the state would be able to use funds from a state bond program to complete the project.
Known as the Casey Arborway, the project will replace the Casey Overpass, which carries the Arborway over the Forest Hills T Station area. A new six- to eight-lane surface road will be constructed.
The state’s project website is massdot.state.ma.us/caseyarborway.