PORTSMOUTH — The Town of Portsmouth will break ground on its new police station at a ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 10 a.m.
The groundbreaking will take place at the …
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PORTSMOUTH — The Town of Portsmouth will break ground on its new police station at a ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 10 a.m.
The groundbreaking will take place at the building site behind the current station at 2270 East Main Road.
The project is being funded by a $10 million bond approved by the voters in 2016. The building was designed by the architectural firm Drummey Rosane Anderson, Inc. The town has hired ABM Group as its owner’s project manager to oversee the project, and the town recently awarded the construction contract to Bentley Builders, LLC of North Kingstown.
The Police Department moved to its current 4,000-square-foot facility in 1975 and had an additional 1,500 square feet added in 1995.
Except for some minor changes to the lobby and dispatch area, there have been no modifications since that time. The new facility will measure 24,000 square feet.
“The needs of the Town and the increase in the number of police officers, particularly women, has made the existing facility exceptionally difficult to work from,” said Police Chief Thomas Lee.
“We looked at all options, including modifications to the existing facility and the possibility of an entirely new police and fire complex. A new police station turned out to be the most cost-effective alternative to provide an adequate facility that would serve the community for the next 50 years,” he added.
Town Administrator Rich Rainer said, “We have worked closely with the architect and will continue to work with the builder to ensure that we provide our citizens with the best value for their investment while providing our police force the space and tools they need to keep them and our community safe.