HOLDEN, Mass. - Shovels are in the dirt, with snow falling in the background, at the site of Holden's new Department of Public Works garage on Industrial Drive.
Construction is expected to begin on Monday, November 2.
Peter Lukes, Holden Town Manager Peter Lukes said,"The fact that we will have this facility that will enable us to perform the best services that we possibly can for decades to come is very important to the Town of Holden and we are excited to do it. "
The facility will be more than 40,000 square feet and include a 6,000 foot canopy for extra vehicle storage.
Holden DPW Director John Woodsmall says the project is a long time coming, with the current DPW facility on Adams Road in need of upgrades.
Woodsmall said, "They are working out of very cramped quarters. There’s not good rest facilities. The mechanics are in very very tight quarters. There's no room to put vehicles as they come in for service. They are servicing vehicles 24 hours a day when we are in a snowstorm. I'll come in at 3 o'clock in the morning, and there's a mechanic under the hood of a truck."
After the new facility is built,Woodsmall says plows will be able to hit the road faster when it snows.
"Being able to put almost all of our vehicles under cover is going to allow them to come into the garage, and get up and go. You don't have to worry about vehicles warming up, you don't have to worry about bringing our plows in. Everything will be inside. It will be quick hook ups and quick goes,” Woodsmall said.
Town leaders also say storing trucks inside will help them last longer.
Lukes said, "It's probably one of our biggest investments, the vehicles we have for DPW and it is millions and millions of dollars. The longer we can use them, the longer we can keep them in good shape, the better, and the more we save in the long run."
And snowstorms like the one on Friday, show Holden's DPW is an important part of the community.
Woodsmall said,"We keep everything running, and if we stopped doing our jobs. Everyone would notice very quickly. "
The project is expected to be completed in 2022