Providence, R.I -- Two unrelated repair projects have turned the top floor of the State House into a construction zone.
RI State House: a construction zone Part I twitter.com/kathyprojo/sta...
— katherine gregg (@kathyprojo) November 28, 2012
The smaller of the two projects began with the removal of a rug in Senate Majority Whip Maryellen Goodwin's office that exposed vinyl tiles that tested positive for asbestos, that led to the removal of carpeting and tiles and glue from the maple floors throughout the Senate leadership offices.
Including the cost of sanding, sealing and patching damaged portions of the flooring, the Department of Administration's Ronald Renaud anticipates the price tax at "less than $50,000.''
The scaffolding was erected for the repair of the leaking tourelles, which appear from the outside as small, temple-like structures at each corner of the State House's grand main dome, and the re-plastering and painting of the damaged ceilings beneath them.
Renaud pegged the cost of the architect at $96,000 and the masons and painters at $524.600. He said the work will be done before the new General Assembly opens on January 1.