The rehabilitation of the primary runway at Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport in 2013 has resulted in a $1. 37 million settlement from three companies. The settlement was reached after they admitted to submitting false claims for payment for the construction work, according to U. S. Attorney for Massachusetts, Leah B Foley.
The issues with the runway, which included cracking and breaking pieces the size of boulders, began in 2019. It was determined that the track, designed by Stantec Consulting Services Inc.and built by Lane Construction Corporation, was never constructed. This caused the city of Westfield and the state Department of Transportation to begin a repair project, which resulted in the relocation of the 104th Fighter Wing.
According to Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General for the Northeast, Brian C. Gallagher, the defendants “cut corners and misrepresented their work, wasting taxpayer dollars. ” This ultimately led to a repair project that was substantially less expensive than replacing the entire runway, which could have cost up to $28 million.
Westfield Mayor Michael McCabe stated that the settlement was in the best interest of the city. The city was responsible for 5% of the $7. 6 million project, with the Department of Transportation and the Department of Defense funding the remainder.
According to Foley, federal contractors have a responsibility to fulfill their obligations and perform the work they promise, especially when it comes to the safety of military personnel. She stated, “We will continue to hold contractors accountable to ensure that federal agencies and taxpayers get what they paid for.
As part of the settlement agreement, Northeast Paving, Lane Construction, and Stantec all admitted to and accepted responsibility for the false claims. Eurovia Atlantic Coast, LLC, which purchased some of Lane Construction’s assets after the rehabilitation was completed, was also included in the settlement.
Gallagher added that this settlement reflects the ongoing collaboration between law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to hold contractors accountable for failing to meet contract performance and quality standards.
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