For Immediate Release

November 14, 2006

Contact: Vanessa Gulati

617-626-1119

STATE ANNOUNCES UPDATES ON PROGRESS OF

WOLLASTON BEACH REHABILITATION PROJECT

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) today announced the most recent developments in the Wollaston Beach Rehabilitation Project. As of late October, drainage reconstruction, seawall repairs, electrical utilities, beach nourishment, revetment repairs and seawall sealant work have all been completed. Sidewalk work is also complete as far south as Morse Street, and the new plaza areas will be paved in the coming weeks.

At Rice Road, the new beach entrance and ramp structure have been completed (the new entrance structure opposite East Elm Street will be completed this winter), and the contractor is currently working on the reconstruction of the Rice Road parking lot which will be greatly improved and extensively landscaped. The lot will open in spring 2007.

Paving began at all parking areas on October 30, and that work is nearly complete. Shade shelter structures are in place and will be completed shortly. The project contractor plans to complete all concrete work by winter, including work on the stone veneer and signs on the gateway entrance walls at East Squantum Street and Rice Road. The scope of the project work has also been expanded to correct drainage and flooding problems in the East Squantum Street.

A great deal of work will be carried out in spring 2007. During construction of the playground at East Elm Park, it was decided that the park’s lighting system should be redesigned rather than repaired. Historic “shepherd’s crook” style lighting will be installed. Repair of the Brett Bathhouse’s damaged lighting system has also been added to the project scope.

The cold planing and overlay of the roadway surface will not occur until spring. Landscaping and final roadway striping will occur following repaving. Installation of benches, flagpoles, water fountains, foot showers and bike racks will also take place in the spring to avoid any damage these new features might sustain over the winter.

All new traffic signals are complete and operating in simplified cycles. The new system will be fully activated in the spring, when detector loops are installed at all intersections.

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