SPRINGFIELD — The long-delayed plans to repair the problematic German Gerena Tunnel are moving forward, but questions are now being asked about how the city’s plans to replace the elementary school will impact the project.
The state Department of Transportation unveiled the preliminary plans for the tunnel repair, which are 25% complete, in a public meeting in April, but did not discuss the proposal for the school.
The state agreed to fix the tunnel at least six years ago, but the project has been delayed for years, in part because of the pandemic. The estimated cost for the repairs now is about $4.2 million.
“Ongoing water infiltration … in tunnel below the school has led to deterioration,” Ashley Bomely, design consultant for Alfred Benesch & Co. which is drafting the plans, said in the April meeting.
The school tunnel allows students and community members to walk from Main Street to Plainfield Street under Birnie Avenue, allowing them to cross under the railroad tracks and bypass Interstate 91. It has been plagued with leaks and flooding for more than two decades. The water has led to mold and made several rooms designated for after-school programs unusable.
The plans call for repairs to be made to deteriorated areas and a concrete “topping slab” to be placed over the beams of the tunnel to prevent leaking. Groundwater pumps and waterproofing will also be added, Bomely said.
Included in the project are plans to make Bernie Road safer and address speeding issues in front of the school.
The plan calls for the road to be narrowed to leave space for a bus queuing area and a shared bike and walking area separated from the street. A speed table will also be added in front of the school, she said.
Construction is expected to take two seasons with crews first excavating one side of the tunnel and closing one lane for at least part of the time. They will switch and work on the other side for the second season. Officials have not announced the timeline of when it will start.
Meanwhile, the plans to replace Gerena School are adding another element to the project.
Like the tunnel, the school has also been plagued with flooding problems, leaks and mold, and it also has open classrooms. The project has been a priority for the School Committee for several years.
The school replacement is in the preliminary stages. The Massachusetts School Building Authority first gave its approvals in December 2023, agreeing to reimburse the city about 80% of all eligible costs. About six months ago, the City Council voted to spend $2.5 million to do a study to decide the steps going forward to replace the building.
But City Councilors and School Committee members have agreed the existing location is an unlikely spot for a new Gerena School because of the high water table in that location.
Springfield Department of Public Works Director Christopher Cignoli said he is a little bit in limbo on the tunnel project until he can find more information about the future of the school.
John Goggins, spokesman for the Department of Transportation, agreed saying they also need more information before about the school project.
Gerena Magnet School on Birnie Avenue, Springfield, Friday, April 25, 2025. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
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