WILTON — The town is moving forward with infrastructure projects expected to begin this summer, approving contracts for reconstruction of a retaining wall near Wilson Lake and paving work.

At its May 19 meeting, the board unanimously approved a $682,637.20 bid from Starrett Snow and Landscape Services for the retaining wall project and later awarded a $444,912 paving contract to Spencer Group Paving LLC of Turner after discussing concerns about asphalt hauling time from a lower bidder.

Town Manager Maria Greeley said Starrett’s retaining wall bid was the only one submitted. She said three or four contractors attended the prebid meeting, but only one submitted a bid.

Board members discussed the company’s experience before voting. Greeley said the contractor was working on a bridge project on Blake Hill Road in Mount Vernon and had done similar work over stream crossings.

The project will extend from the area near the steps to the bridge, officials said at the meeting. The stone wall will remain in place and act as a coffer while the new wall is built out from it.

The board discussed whether the project would be done in phases, but Greeley said the work will be completed as one project because of the funding deadline.

“We’re using (American Rescue Plan Act) funding,” Greeley said. “The project has to be completed and money spent by December of ’26 to use ARPA.”

The contractor is expected to start by the end of June.

Greeley said engineers and contractors who attended the prebid meeting were aware of the Wilton Blueberry Festival and the need to have the area shut down, clean and safe during the event.

Board members also asked whether swimming would be available in the area during the summer. Greeley said that would depend on the contractor’s phasing schedule after the contract was awarded because some of the work involves culverts, the road and the parking lot.

The board also extended the town’s contract with Sevee & Maher Engineers for additional work on the retaining wall project. Greeley said the original $63,300 contract included site plan design, a landscape plan, site plan review application, permitting, construction administration and bid documents.

She said an additional $26,000 is expected to be needed to address added scope and complete construction administration services. With that additional cost, Greeley said, the overall project would be in the $710,000 range.

Regarding the paving bid, John Masse, foreman of the Wilton Public Works Department, said four companies submitted offers and he recommended Spencer Group.

Masse said the low bidder was about 100 miles away, which he considered too far for hauling asphalt.

“That’s my opinion, that’s too far away to go from,” he said.

Board members discussed the importance of asphalt temperature during transport, saying the concern was not just distance but whether the asphalt would arrive hot enough to be applied properly.

Paving work has been planned for Pleasant Street from Temple Road to Red Schoolhouse Road; Temple Street from Orchard Drive toward Main Street; Magrath Road, beginning near Wilson Lake Country Club; White Schoolhouse Road, starting at the Wilton Intervale; Ridgecrest Drive; Railroad Street from Pleasant Street to Main Street; Pleasant View Heights; and Austin Street, below Main Street.

The paving work is expected to be completed by October.

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