BOSTON — Three companies involved with the rehabilitation of the primary runway at the Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport in 2013 have agreed to pay $1.37 million collectively to a settlement after admitting they submitted, or caused the submission of, false claims for payment for the construction work, according to Leah B Foley, the U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts.
“We were having problems with the runway 2-20 cracking and they were getting progressively worse,” said Westfield Airport Commission Chair William Gonet, adding that portions of the runaway had broken away in pieces the size of “boulders.”
The problems began in 2019 when the “track,” an interface between the concrete runway and the surrounding asphalt, began cracking.
The track was designed by Stantec Consulting Services Inc., a New York engineering firm and built by Lane Construction Corporation, a Connecticut construction company, each certifying that the $7.6 million rehabilitation project met the requirements of the plans and specifications.
However, the track was never built, according to Foley.
Because of the cracking in the area where the track should have been constructed, the city of Westfield and the state Department of Transportation began a repair project to address the issues. During the repair project, 104th Fighter Wing was forced to relocate.
“The defendants cut corners and misrepresented their work wasting taxpayer dollars,” said Brian C. Gallagher, special agent in charge of the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General for the Northeast.
Gonet said repairing the cracking cost substantially less than what it might cost to replace the runway, which could cost upwards of $28 million.
“We’re glad the federal government went after them,” Gonet said. “It was something they had to do.”
Westfield Mayor Michael McCabe said the settlement was in the best interest of city.
The city of Westfield was responsible for 5% of the $7.6 million project with the Department of Transportation and the Department of Defense funding the remainder needed.
“Federal contractors must fulfill their obligations and perform the work they promise to provide, especially where their work impacts the safety of our military,” Foley said. “We will continue to hold contractors to their commitments to ensure that federal agencies and taxpayers get what they paid for.”
As part of the settlement agreement, Northeast Paving, Lane Construction and Stantec each admitted to and accepted responsibility for facts underlying the covered conduct. After completion of the rehabilitation, Eurovia Atlantic Coast, LLC d/b/a Northeast Paving purchased some Lane Construction’s assets, which is why it was included in the settlement.
“This settlement reflects our commitment and ongoing collaboration with law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to hold contractors accountable for failing to meet contract performance and quality standards,” Gallagher said.
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