"Relative" To What, Mr. Perry? Molasses?

Last September during his monthly report, DPW Superintendent Robert Perry made his only mention of National Grid's gas line replacement project, 2 months after the work had begun.  He referred to the upcoming work on 3rd Street and on 3 blocks of Warren Street.  He concluded with this:  "They (NG's contractor Mullen) have some pretty heavy equipment that comes through and makes relatively quick work of it.  When I have a schedule, I will let everyone know."  Perry has not mentioned anything about National Grid's major project since then, let alone offering "a schedule" to "everyone."  Apparently our DPW Superintendent doesn't care how long the project takes, nor does he think the council and Hudson resident need to know.  "Whatever!"

Last Tuesday on N. 5th with street closed off.

Six months later, Mullen & Sons Contracting, with all their machinery and noise, can be found and heard working in (and near) the 500 block of Warren Street.  Yesterday and Monday, flaggers were out on Warren directing traffic through one lane of traffic past the machinery taking up the other lane, as well as guiding pedestrians across the street to avoid sidewalk obstructions.  As Hudseen has reported recently, the street and sidewalk blockage has been going on for the past few weeks.  Generally, work in the 500 block of Warren has been going on for at least three months.

This morning, for the first time, I noticed Mullen workers excavating in an alley. The entire 300 block of Prison Alley (located between Warren and Columbia) was closed to traffic so that Mullen could park their huge vehicle near their work site as they dug up an old metal natural gas line to replace it with a new plastic one.  I asked a Mullen worker -- who appeared to be a supervisor of some sort -- how long Mullen planned to be in Hudson doing their work. He immediately responded, "Through the summer."  He wasn't sure exactly where work would be taking place, though I'm guessing that our alleys are now part of the project and on the "schedule."

I'm wondering if that's the schedule that Robert Perry was offered by National Grid or Mullen over six months ago.  Was Perry made aware at the end of last summer that National Grid and their contractor Mullen would still be working in Hudson one year later?  Our great communicator certainly never mentioned anything about our alleys being closed and excavated by Mullen or National Grid.  Hell, the city's website hasn't mentioned one thing about this huge and disruptive project, as if it isn't even happening or affecting anyone.  Why offer a schedule with a timeline and end date for something that isn't taking place?