Killam School construction update for October

The Town of Reading posted an October update on Oct. 22 describing continued construction work at the new Killam Elementary School building project.

Throughout the month, contractor J. Read Corp. carried out site preparation and excavation within the building footprint and surrounding areas, using excavators, compaction equipment and trucking resources to remove soil and establish required building elevations. The release states that excavation and soil removal remain active as crews continue preparing the footprint and establishing wall offsets for upcoming construction.

Environmental technicians from CDW and LSP monitored the excavation, collected soil samples and evaluated site conditions as material was removed. The project team reviewed test pit findings and confirmed that contaminants were identified as anticipated, meaning no additional testing beyond the initial borings was required. Groundwater was observed during excavation near the elevation where acceptable soil conditions were found, and environmental monitoring continued as work progressed.

Crews also installed and extended temporary drainage infrastructure, including an initial run of about 121 feet of piping and an additional roughly 60 feet of temporary pipe. Excavation uncovered large boulders, buried tree stumps and tree trunks left from the former play area. The project team plans to use a hydraulic hammer, or hoe ram, to break the boulders down for easier removal and transportation.

Residents can view construction photos and project updates on the project website.

Source: Town of Reading announcement, October 30, 2026.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the original announcement.