On July 19, 2023 the Bedford Town Council reviewed conceptual plans for the construction of a South River Road Police and Fire Complex located at 300 South River Road. The Town’s construction management firm, Fulcrum Associates along with architects from Lavallee Brensinger Architects hired to design the Complex, presented the plans during the Council’s regular July meeting.
The plans reflect a new one-story building of approximately 44,000 square feet that will contain the entire Police Department utilizing approximately 24,000 square feet, and a Fire Substation of approximately 10,000 square feet with another 10,000 square feet of shared space and covered parking/impound area. The Complex would be located to the rear of the site with primary access from Cedarwood Drive and secondary access via a driveway on South River Road. The Complex is designed to meet the needs of at least the next 30 years.
The necessity for the Complex is due in part to the nearly doubling of the Town’s population and approximately fivefold increase in the number of calls for service that led to overcrowding issues at the current Safety Complex on Constitution Drive since it opened in 1994. The current Safety Complex will remain the Central Station for the Fire Department, as well as home of the Building Department, Public Works Administration, and the Planning Department will move there to centralize all permitting activity for the first time. Lori Radke, Vice Chairwoman of the Council noted that she is supporting the facilities program as, “It also relieves pressure at the Safety Complex and Town Office.”
The site provides the Fire Department a substation in an area of Town that drives a significant level of emergency calls due to the increase of high density housing, assisted living complexes, and commercial development in the area.
The architectural team is now developing three-dimensional building elevations and cost estimates in preparation of a bond question to be placed on the ballot in March of 2024. Residents should stay tuned for more information on the project, which will be provided on the Town website, in press releases, pamphlets, social media, BCTV, and in public presentations soon.