Peterborough staff, contractors from Beck & Bellucci, NH DOT and Eversource are all still working on a plan for removing the drill rig that overturned last Thursday, Town Administrator Nicole MacStay said on Tuesday.
“Given the very limited space to work in, removal of such a large piece of equipment is very tricky, and all parties are working hard on a plan that will ensure the safety of everyone involved in the recovery process,” she said. The town will share their final plan when it’s ready, she said. Although the extraction process will be resource-intensive, the contractor or subcontractor will be responsible for the cost, MacStay said, not the town or the state. It’s not yet apparent whether the accident will result in any lost time on the project. Progress on the bridge portion of the construction project was allowed to continue.
The 90-ton Soilmec drilling rig overturned on Thursday morning while moving on the site. There were no injuries and a fuel leak was quickly contained. It rests on a ramp below street level with treads in the air. It did not fall off the retaining wall, MacStay said, but fell over after it became unbalanced. “We’re all trying to figure it out,” she said. Representatives from Beck & Bellucci declined to comment on the situation.