Paving Project Awaits Completion

As of early this week the had three jobs left in its $675,000 paving project from last year.

Project contractor started the Tidd Street paving job 4-6 weeks ago, grinding the existing asphalt, said Public Works Director Gino Cresta.

The work stopped when the town learned residents had petitioned National Grid to install a natural gas line.

The line has since been installed and Cresta said he expected Aggregate to return some time this month and complete the job.

At the same time the company will lay down a 2-inch finish coat of asphalt on Prospect Street. Otherwise, the only work remaining from the $675,000 project is grinding and overlaying — paving a second layer over existing asphalt — Sheridan Terrace and Ocean View Road.

"That's the end of it," the Public Works director said.

The contract for the $675,000 project called for work on 17 streets or 46,000 square yards of road in town, Cresta said earlier.

Cresta said he is pleased with Aggregate's work. Paving last fall included Stanley Road, Puritan Road, Bradlee Avenue, Morton Road, Blodgett Avenue and Northstone Road.

Project funding draws on Chapter 90 dollars from the state, Cresta said.

Chapter 90 funds road and bridge construction projects in the Commonwealth's towns and cities.

Many of them, Swampscott included, saw an increase in funding in 2012 under the governor's transportation bond bill.Swampscott, which has about 43 miles of roads, is scheduled to receive $62,323 more in 2012 under Chapter 90 funding, according to a Massachusetts Municipal Association chart.

The town received $240,609 in 2011 and is scheduled to receive $302,932 in 2012, according to the chart.