The project is under construction by Sargent Corporation from Stillwater, ME. Construction will continue throughout 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Condensed Construction Schedule (Updated 12/08/21)
A full construction schedule can be viewed here: SCHEDULE
Construction Update: January 21, 2021
As of this update, the 60-inch sewer pipe installation has been completed and around 250 feet of the conduit has been installed. The contractor continues to work on installing drainage within the completed pipe sections and once all of the utilities are in place, the road will be rebuilt and paved. The section of Baxter Boulevard from Dartmouth Street to Vannah Avenue is scheduled to reopen to vehicle traffic in June of 2022. The section of the Boulevard that spans from Vannah Avenue to Payson Park will remain closed until June of 2023. Sargent’s subcontractors continue to blast ledges within the area as well as installing sheet piling for the new box conduits. The blasting contractor is on George St currently, heading towards Vannah Ave.
The Portland Water District is also completing a significant update to their sewer pump station which is nearby on the Boulevard. Due to this, large external pumps and pipeline will divert the flow of sewage around the station to a manhole located on the Back Cove walking path. This temporary solution will remain active for the next 4-6 months. Questions regarding this can be directed to the Portland Water District’s Project Manager, Helen Newman, at 207-523-5279.
Construction Update: December 22, 2021
Currently Baxter Boulevard is closed from Preble Street to Payson Park. This will remain closed throughout the entire winter and into May. Utility work continues to progress installing sewer, storm drains and associated structures within Baxter Boulevard, Dartmouth Street, and Vannah Avenue. Box conduit crew continues to install sheet piles, weld steel bracing, excavate and install box conduits. To date they have installed 247 feet of box conduit out of the 1,800 foot total. Sargent will be working on the weekends installing sheeting for the box conduits. Capital Rock has begun to do daily drilling and blasting. This will continue over the next 4-6 weeks starting near the Cheverus track and heading towards Mackworth Street within Baxter Boulevard.
Construction Update: November 30, 2021
Sargent has finished installing the outfalls at Dartmouth Street and the Back Cove Trail has been restored to its original location. Work within Dartmouth Street will continue throughout the winter and Baxter Boulevard from Preble Street to Payson Park will remain closed.
Sargent also continues to install box conduits and sheet piling associated the the storage box conduit. Progress has been slower than anticipated but crews will start working 7 days a week throughout the winter to continue to make progress. Also the blasting company will be returning to the site in December to continue blasting ledge where they left off during the fall near Mackworth Street.
Sargent continues to install storm drainage, gravels, and restoring Baxter Boulevard as they make progress in the area. The roadway will remain closed until pavement plants reopen in April of 2022.
Construction Update: November 12, 2021
Sargent has finished installing the 48 inch storage pipe within Baxter Boulevard and now started to work on the Dartmouth Street outfall. They will continue to work on the pipes and structures associated with this work. Due to ground water and tides the work in Dartmouth Street will now last until December 3. Once the work is completed Dartmouth will be opened back up.
Sargent also continues to install box conduits and sheet piling associated the the storage box conduit closer to the Cheverus track area.
Work at the Vannah St diversion chamber has finished.
Sargent continues to install storm drainage, gravels, and restoring Baxter Boulevard as they make progress in the area.
Construction Update: October 27, 2021
Sargent has finished installing the 60 inch storage pipe within Baxter Boulevard and now they have transitioned to 48 inch towards Dartmouth Street. They will continue installing this pipe into Dartmouth St. Starting November 1, work will begin on the Dartmouth Street outfalls. Associated with this outfall work, Baxter Boulevard at Dartmouth Street, will be closed for 3 weeks. The press relesease can be found here: https://portlandmaine.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=6087
Sargent also continues to install sheet piling and bracing near the Baxter Boulevard pump station. This support system is in order to install the 1800 linear feet of 20 foot x 8 foot box conduit. They have installed 6 sections of the box conduit so far and will contine installing box conduits for the next year.
Work at the Vannah Street diversion chamber also started this week. The Back Cove Trail has been diverted around the work area. Trail diversions will continue throught the project as the contractor works on the outfalls into Back Cove.
Gantry Crane
60" Pipe Install
Clay Subgrade
Looking North at the Box Conduit
Back Cove Trail
Looking into the Box Conduit
Installed Box Conduits
Box Conduit Delivery
Construction Update: October 4, 2021
Sargent continues to install 60 inch pipe within Baxter Boulevard and now the pipe has crossed Vannah Avenue. They will continue installing the pipe all the way to Dartmouth Street. Blasting has concluded for the time being and will return to the site sometime in December. Sargent also continues to install sheet piling and bracing near the Baxter Boulevard pump station. This support system is in order to install the 1800 linear feet of 20 foot x 8 foot box conduit. Superior Concrete has produced the first section of box conduit at their facility. The boxes will be delivered to the site this week.
Custom Built Excavator
Installation of 60" Pipe
Sheet Pile Bracing
Flow Control Manhole
Construction Update: September 10, 2021
Sargent continues to install 60 inch pipe within Baxter Boulevard towards Vannah Avenue. They also have been installing sheet piling and bracing near the Baxter Boulevard pump station in order to install the large diameter structures. These sheet piles go 30 feet deep.
Baxter Boulevard from Vannah to Dartmouth Street was also closed on 9/7/21. This was so that the contractor can remove the pavement surface and continue with blasting before the 60 inch pipe crew gets to Vannah Avenue.
Sargent will be closing more of Baxter Boulevard, from Payson Park to Dartmouth Street. This closure will begin 9/7/2021 and last until December 2022.
See below for a map of the closure as well as for more information about the project.
Construction Update: August 20, 2021
Sargent's sub-contractor, Capital Rock, continues to blast ledge daily. Sargent's construction crew has started to install 60" plastic storage pipe within this blasted ledge. They have also started to install sheet piles to support the trench work for the new storage box conduit.
Construction Update: June 16, 2021
**MAJOR TRAFFIC ALERT** Baxter Boulevard Traffic Impacts Begin June 24
Sargent will be closing Baxter Boulevard from Payson Park to Vannah Avenue. This first phase of closure is scheduled to last for the next three months.
See below for a map of the closure as well as for more information about the project.
Construction Update: May 26, 2021
Sargent has started to mobilize to the worksite with the installation of office trailers and pipe materials. A security fence has also been installed along Back Cove trail to limit people, bicycles and vehicles from accessing the worksite. Access points to the trail have been provided at Dartmouth St, Vannah Ave, Cross walk at Baxter and Chenery and at Payson Park.
Construction is scheduled to start end of June or early July. Once construction starts Baxter Boulevard will be closed to traffic, bicycles, and pedestrians.
Sargent Corporation was the low bidder with a bid of $27,272,257.00
The Notice of Award was issued on December 28, 2020 and signed on December 29, 2020.
City of Portland's Planning Authority has approved a Level 1 Site Alteration Permit on December 30, 2020.
Maine DEP has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact for the Back Cove West Storage Conduit Project. The report has been posted below under Press Releases.
On March 4, 2020 the City of Portland had a neighborhood meeting on this project. The presentation given at the meeting can be found under Press Releases.
New 1,690 foot long 20 foot x 8 foot box conduit will be installed in Baxter Boulevard to capture Combined Sewer Overflows before they reach back Cove.
2,133 feet of 60" round pipe to be used for storage.
8 existing CSO’s will be consolidated into 2 remaining CSO’s.
New sewer, storm drains and water lines will be installed in Dartmouth Street from Baxter Boulevard to Forest Avenue.
Streets within work area will be reconstructed, new pavement installed.
Multiple storm drain outfalls will be replaced along Baxter Boulevard.
Multiple long street closures will occur throughout the project.
New traffic signal at Vannah Ave and Baxter Blvd.
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE PROJECT
Noise
Large equipment and machines moving through the area creating vibrations
Temporary disruptions to driveways, water, sewer lines (contractor must provide notification)
Temporary water lines will be installed running across yards and connecting to houses
Dust - contractor required to control dust but it will still get dusty at times
Professional interactions with contractor (contact one of the people listed below, if this doesn’t happen)
SEQUENCING OF PROJECT
Start of construction July 2021 and continue through 2022.
Project will start by closing Baxter Boulevard from Payson Park to Vannah Avenue.
Once the work progresses towards Vannah Avenue Baxter Boulevard will be closed from Payson Park to Dartmouth Street from September 2021 to December 2022.
A 20 foot x 8 foot concrete box conduit will be installed from Cheverus Track to Mackworth St.
60" storage pipe will be installed from Mackworth St to Dartmouth Street.
Base paving first of December 2022.
Once this section is complete Dartmouth St will be closed from Forest Ave to Baxter Boulevard in March of 2023 to November 2023.
New sewer, storm and water will be installed in Dartmouth Street.
Spring 2024 Surface Paving and stripping of the streets.
WHO TO CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS/ISSUES
Project Engineer, Portland Department of Public Works: Nathaniel Smith at (207) 874-8818, nhs@portlandmaine.gov
