Holyoke firm to manage Union Station construction

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - One of the most anticipated projects in Springfield is closer to becoming a reality.

It's 40 years in the making, and the proposed Union Station transportation project is finally moving forward.

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno announced Daniel O'Connell's Sons, a Holyoke Based Company, will be the Construction Manager at Risk (CMR) for the proposed Union Station transportation project.

President of the Company, Dennis Fitzpatrick , told 22News demolition on the project should begin in November, construction right after, and be complete two years later in 2014.

"We do feel the pressure to bring this in on time and on budget.  We always do but moreso with a project with this kind of profile and history of getting into the starting blocks of union station makes us more zealous about getting it done on time," Fitzpatrick said.

The goal is to make Union Station the transportation hub in the region, providing connections for rail, bus and ground services.

Daniel O'Connell's Sons was also involved with the construction of the Memorial Bridge and the Federal Courthouse on State Street.

The $45 million dollar transportation project is expected to create nearly 200 jobs for the area.

It's a project many people have been waiting decades to see happen.

"I would love to see that, I hope I live long enough to see that. I'm going to be 50 and I'm hoping, it'll be great to see that building up and up again, really, truly," said Christine Rosario, Springfield.

The bidding process for subcontractors on the project is expected to take place in late 2012.

The city of Springfield will also be creating a website that will allow you to track the projects progress.

The website is not yet up and running.