Work on the Sen. Terry Brown Amphitheater is expected to begin this week.
Robyn Eastman, senior project manager with J5 Broaddus, said contractor Gregory Construction has started moving onto the amphitheater site. Eastman said Gregory Construction should soon be fully mobilized with a project trailer and full-time staff on site.
The $3.2 million project has been split into four contracts, awarded to three firms: plumbing to Perma Corporation for $189,420; the stage to Gregory Construction Services for $1.39 million; civil site work to Gregory Construction for $1.31 million; and electrical to Webster Electric for $393,696.
The city originally advertised the project as one item, but rejected original bids that came in over budget and readvertised it as separate contracts.
Eastman said the construction should ramp up through the fall. The project is expected to be complete in May.
“Gregory Construction is going to be the first on site,” Eastman said. “They’ll shape the property to fit the land for what the final product will look like. Once that’s done, in October and November, we’ll have Perma Corp move on site and Webster move on site to start the underground utility work that needs to be done.”
Gregory Construction will begin building the amphitheater facility itself in November, Eastman added.
The amphitheater, located on the Island, is named for the late District 17 state senator. The Legislature has appropriated money for the project as part of a planned Riverwalk extension and quality of life improvement project. The Legislature appropriated $2.25 million last year and $1.1 million this year for the Riverwalk project.
The facility is planned to seat 3,500 people, according to current plans. Capacity will be split between space for 1,750 people in lawn and general admission seating, 1,083 permanent chair back seats and room for 615 people in a flexible seating area in front of the stage.
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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