Scituate Advances Major Water and Coastal Projects
SCITUATE - Scituate is making visible progress on four major public works efforts, all critical to protecting natural resources, managing future growth, and improving public access.
Stearns Meadow Water Treatment Plant Reaches 30% Completion
Project engineers from Woodard & Curran reported that construction on the Stearns Meadow Water Treatment Plant is 30% complete as of May 31, with the project still on schedule. The timeline projects substantial completion by December 2026 and final completion in around June 2027.
Concrete work is nearly complete, with structural steel installation now the primary activity. The team reported no major weather delays or stormwater management failures. They also confirmed that materials were pre-ordered to avoid cost increases from federal Build America requirements.
A $483,300 change order, only the second to date, was approved. It includes:
$335,500 to install a code-mandated floor drain and tight tank system in the garage area, following a directive by the town’s plumbing inspector;
$110,000 for electrical and structural steel modifications based on confirmed equipment specs;
$37,800 for miscellaneous site adjustments, including sand bed alignment, sample pump upgrades, and chemical room sprinklers.
While unexpected, these additions reflect long-term durability and compliance. The change order brings total project change costs to just 0.8%, with $2.45 million still available in contingency funds.
North Scituate Sewer Expansion Route Selected
Scituate is also moving forward with plans to expand sewer access to the North Scituate area. Engineers presented five route alternatives. After hydraulic modeling and impact assessments, the town selected “Alternative B1”, a route from Country Way to Branch Street, as the most cost-effective and least disruptive option.
The preferred route:
Avoids requiring multiple downstream pump stations;
Connects to existing gravity-fed systems;
Reduces future staffing needs and potential climate risk (compared to coastal pump station use).
Preliminary design wraps in July. Full design, permitting, and easement work will occur through early 2026, with construction projected to begin November 2026 and finish by June 2028.
Coastal Protection Work Progresses at Two Sites
The town’s resilience planning also includes major seawall upgrades. Construction began in early June on the Oceanside Drive Seawall replacement. Crews are currently driving steel sheet piles to prepare for wall reconstruction, expected to last through the end of the year.
A separate project, a repair (not replacement) of the Turner Road seawall, remains on track to finish by the end of June.
Jericho Boat Ramp Reopens Early to Public Enthusiasm
Finally, one of the most visible and eagerly anticipated infrastructure projects, the Jericho Boat Ramp, has reopened. The ramp was completed roughly a week and a half ahead of schedule.
Town officials credited Asphalt of Rhode and the Office of Fishing and Boating Access with completing the job efficiently. The parking area has also been upgraded, and lighting work remains underway.
Boaters are advised that occasional disruptions may still occur as contractors finish lighting and punch list items.
Together, these four initiatives represent a coordinated investment in Scituate’s future ensuring clean water, modern sewer service, resilient coastlines, and improved public access for the next generation.
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