Calverton National Cemetery Plans $32M Expansion

Calverton National Cemetery will expand its developed acreage, preparing enough grave-site land for an additional decade of burials, officials said Monday.” ?

Rep. Tim Bishop, who announced U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs funding for the $32-million project, said veterans would join him for the groundbreaking Monday.

The cemetery had more than 6,600 interments in 2008 with more than 200,000 since opening in 1978.

This project will develop nearly 90 acres and “includes about 33,000 pre-placed crypts, 4,800 columbarium niches and 1,000 in-ground cremation interment sites,” Bishop’s office said.

A spokesman for Bishop could not immediately be reached Monday to confirm the numbers released by the congressman. Based on the list of 38,800 new burial sites paid for by the federal funding; and the average number of burials of 6,600 over the past 30 years – and 6,600 in 2008 – the funding would provide fewer than six years of burial capacity.

The project also includes improvements for the administration building, maintenance building, roads, utilities, the irrigation systems, signs, fencing, guardrails, landscaping, repair and paving of existing roads.

The $32,191,900 contract was awarded to GC&P Fab-Con Llc., a regional business firm with a local office in Riverhead, Bishop’s office said.

The project’s contractor and subcontractors will employ 75 to 80 workers through the course of the development. The expansion is scheduled for completion in fall 2011.

Source: Newsday.com