LHS Expansion Project On Time, Slightly Under Budget

Students at Lynnfield High School should be using their new classrooms and science labs by the end of February vacation, which will see classes resume on Monday the 25th this year.

On Thursday morning, Mark Lydon of architecture and construction management firm Heery International reported to members of the Lynnfield High School Building Committee that along with being on schedule, the project is not expected to go over budget at all - and is actually around $25,000 under budget, which will help deal with any last-minute costs for the project.

Much of the exterior of the two-story math and science wing behind the school is now complete. On February 1st, windows for the new expansion are expected to arrive - and hopefully somewhat earlier if contractors have their way. Science lab equipment, laptops, wi-fi and wiring are among the other remaining tasks to be completed, said Lydon after the meeting.

The students will have six new classrooms and two new science labs in the space.

Lydon also noted that during earlier work on the project, some old catch basins were found underground containing an oily residue which was dealt with at the time. Elevated amounts of nickel were found in the soil as well, and contractors are now working to determine whether that came from the pipes or not. Lydon said that either way, the nickel levels in the soil do not pose a health risk.

Last January, of about $4.5 million. Voters approved a Proposition 2 1/2 override back in November of 2010 to pay for the rest of it.

Finally, these photos taken last August at the work site show how much things have progressed since then.