EAST LONGMEADOW — The town of East Longmeadow was recently awarded $1,975,000 through the MassWorks Infrastructure Program to support the town’s work to upgrade the Chestnut Street Water Pumping Station.
The awarded funds will specifically be utilized to reduce the overall cost of the project for the town by covering up to two-thirds of the project, Water and Sewer Administrator Felix Vachon told Reminder Publishing. He estimated that the total project cost could be up to $3 million, stating that the remaining costs of the project will be paid by the town.
“The last significant upgrade to the Chestnut Street Water Pumping Station was in the early 1980s and while the building structure has been maintained physically in great shape, the station mechanically and electrically is ready for a significant overhaul,” Vachon explained, noting the station’s drives, motors, power generation equipment and pumping equipment. He highlighted that the station’s equipment was “aged beyond their useful life” and that the project would install more efficient and up-to-date equipment.
The MassWorks Infrastructure Program offers grants that target specific infrastructure projects such as housing, local development and job creation. The program was one of multiple announced on Oct. 24 by Gov. Maura Healey as part of the Community One Stop for Growth Awards. Other programs included the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund, Community Planning Grant Program, Housing Choice Grant Program and Underutilized Properties Program.
In total, $95 million was awarded across 62 projects within the MassWorks Infrastructure Program. These projects included $2,800,000 awarded to Springfield for bicyclist, motorist and pedestrian safety improvements and $285,000 for expansion of the Town Shoppes in Longmeadow, according to the Executive Office of Economic Development.
While the Chestnut Street Water Pumping Station’s needed work was previously identified by the Department of Public Works, the project wasn’t conducted due to high costs, Vachon said. He emphasized that the pump station was “vital” to fighting fires in much of the town and distributing water to residents. This is the first time that the town has received funds for this project.
“The awarded grant funding brings the cost down to a more manageable amount and allows us to perform this project,” Vachon stated.
Under the current timeline, the project is expected to begin in January 2025 with a completion date of June 2026, Vachon said. However, he noted that there was a potential for delays if needed equipment was not immediately available.
