Nahant Causeway project progressing

NAHANT – At Nahant’s Board of Selectmen meeting Thursday evening, Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Project Engineer Val Soroka said the Causeway reconstruction project is proceeding smoothly.?We have a commitment to get the project right, on time and on budget,” he said.James Caputo, who is also with the DCR, said assistance offered by Nahant Town Administrator Mark Cullinan and the Nahant Police Department has been invaluable.?The temporary roadway opened on time in September,” Caputo said. “We added safety reflectors that weren’t in the original design on the (concrete) barriers. It gives us a better delineation of the roadway.”Selectman Richard Lombard said he is pleased with the way the project is progressing.?A major project like this you always get complaints,” Lombard said. “I haven’t received one complaint.”Caputo said some residents were not happy with the 25 mph speed limit on the Causeway but it is necessary for safety reasons. He pointed out the temporary roadway was constructed as a parking lot. He said he’s confident it’s safe as a roadway at 25 miles per hour but not convinced it would be safe at higher speeds.Design Engineer Bill Mertz assured area residents two travel lanes would remain open in each direction for the duration of the project. Mertz said work has been scheduled so there would be little disruption to the Nahant Beach Reservation during the summer months.Selectman Lainey Titus said she is pleased to hear the project is proceeding as planned.The $20 million roadway reconstruction project officially got under way June 10, 2010. The project is designed to refurbish the roadway, upgrade the drainage systems along the Causeway and repair the decaying seawall.Mertz said instead of patching the seawall, a decision was made to reface the entire seawall with concrete. He said the DCR has filed permits that if granted would allow it to rebuild the ramp near The Tides restaurant, which is used primarily by emergency personnel to launch rescue operations.?If it saves one life in 100 years,” he said, “it has done its job.”When the project is complete, travel lanes on the causeway will be increased from 10.5 feet wide to 11 feet, the installation of 57 historic light posts in the new median and a four-foot shoulder on the Causeway for bicyclists.Other goals of the seven-phase project are to make the Nahant Beach Reservation more identifiable and implement the best storm water management practices.In other business, the selectmen voted unanimously to appoint Administrative Assistant Susan Behen as assistant treasurer/collector effective Feb. 18 when the current assistant treasurer Kathryn Famulari takes over as treasurer/ collector. Famulari is filling the position that is being vacated by assistant treasurer Joanne Bingham, who is retiring.Selectman Michael Manning said Behen is the perfect candidate to fill the position.