Contractors were on-site at the Mathews Rescue Squad building yesterday, mobilizing to begin construction of two towers in Mathews County that are ultimately expected to make broadband service available to all of the county’s residents.
“With all the projects we’ve had going on for the last 18 months, building these two towers is a giant step forward toward universal broadband coverage,” said Judy Rowe, chair of the Mathews Broadband Advisory Board.
According to the project schedule, provided by Mathews County Administrator Ramona Wilson, work on the tower at the Mathews Rescue Squad building at Hudgins will begin first, followed soon after by work on the tower at Fire Station 2 in Bohannon.
Mobilization, fencing for silt runoff, tree protection, and building an access road to the rescue squad tower site are expected to take about a week, said the proposed schedule, with excavation for the foundation scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 24 and 25. The tower itself is slated for delivery and installation on Feb. 28.
The fire station tower has a similar timeline, with mobilization scheduled for Feb. 1, followed by foundation excavation on Feb. 14 and 15 and tower delivery/installation on March 23.
The contractor has 90 days to complete both towers, says the Notice to Proceed, with final inspections scheduled for the rescue squad tower on March 9 and 10 and for the fire station tower on April 7.
Background
The Notice to Proceed, dated Jan. 18, 2023, was issued by Wilson earlier this week to Edward L. Muller Construction Company of Quinton, Virginia. Muller was the lowest bidder on the project, lowering his price still further in negotiations made after the footprint of the project was reduced and it was determined that no wetlands were involved. He agreed to build the two towers for $738,511 total ($360,966 for the rescue squad tower and $377,545 for the Station 2 tower) and was awarded the project on Nov. 18. The contract was executed on Dec. 12. The project will be paid for with American Rescue Plan Act funds.