Humphrey Under Construction From One End to the Other

Construction projects big and small are underway on Humphrey Street.

Crews are digging and drilling, surveying and setting forms all within about a mile of each other.

From the Gateway property to the pumping station no fewer than three major projects and two minor projects are in motion.

A fourth major project on Humphrey, installation of underground and above ground utility lines, including fiber optics, is expected to start within a week or so, said Swampscott Fire Chief Kevin Breen.

The fire chief and Police Chief Ron Madigan were at the site of the new police station on Tuesday.

They met with utility company representatives to talk about the best place to locate utilities for the new police station, said the police chief.

Crews are expected to start sinking pilings for the station's foundation within the next week or two, he said.

The pilings, or piles, are pole-like structures that will lend support to the two-story, 13,700-square-foot station at 531 Humphrey Street. 

Up the street at the former Cap'n Jack's site, Meninno Construction crews were busy with the ledge removal phase of the development project.

A blasting mat stood high on a ledge deposit well inside the gate while closer to the gate an excavator's bucket stood above a dump truck.

Blasting and ledge removal were slated for mid-April to be followed by excavation and foundation construction in May.

Actual construction of the 15 luxury condos is scheduled for June, the developers said earlier.

Farther up the street, on the other side, next to Hadley School, the Gateway property is undergoing its latest metamorphosis.

A little more than a year ago, fire claimed the three-story commercial and residential structure.

On Tuesday and Wednesday crews were installing forms into which concrete is being poured. Once the concrete cures it will form foundation walls for the single-story property.

Jayne Orloff-Carey, whose family owns the property, said earlier that the new building will accommodate up to six businesses of 600 to 800 square feet each, though units could be combined if that is what tenants want.

Minor projects underway on Wednesday included sidewalk construction at the new building across from and utility work along the road by .