Main Framingham Library’s New Pearl Street Ramp & Entrance Complete

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FRAMINGHAM – The entrance to the main Framingham Public Library, on the Pearl Street side, has re-opened in the new year.

The entrance was closed to allow for the construction of a new American With Disabilities Act (ADA) complaint ramp. The new entrance to the main Framingham Public Library also includes a new stone wall, and multiple benches.

Library Director Len Kilburn said she eventually wants to add tables and seating to the Pearl Street entrance this spring/summer.

The Library Director is considering a ribbon cutting ceremony later too.

While the construction was taking place, only the Lexington Street entrance was open to customers and staff of the library.

Construction began in mid-April of 2022, and ended at the end of 2022.

The total cost of the project ended up at more than $1.33 million.

The project was a long time coming, and was almost double the cost of the original funding.

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Framingham Town Meeting – the government before Framingham became a City – approved the project as part of the Fiscal Year 2018 Capital Improvement Plan in Spring of 2017.

Town Meeting members voted to appropriate $715,000 for the design and construction of the Pearl Street entrance to the main library.

The City received an additional $250,000 in grant funding for ADA accessibility, said Framingham Director of Capital Projects and Facilities Management Jim Paolini.

In May, 2022, the 11-member City Council appropriated an additional $289,271 to cover a shortfall in funding, after the bids were received.

The lowest bid was $1,187,000.

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The pandemic and delays by the Spicer administration had resulted in significant inflation in construction costs.

During the course of the construction, unanticipated conditions were found that required additional structural work, wrote Paolini to the City Council.

That additional work added up to another $77,243, which the City Council approved tonight, January 3, unanimously

Expenses for unforeseen conditions included:

• Footing change per the engineers due to duct bank- $42,985

• Wall change at new stairs- $15,960

• T&M for block work around electrical vault- $5,660

• Testing for soil, compaction, rebar, and concrete- $12,638

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