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Three firms have agreed to pay a combined $1.37 million to resolve allegations that they submitted or caused the submission of false claims related to the rehabilitation of Runway 2-20 at Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport in Massachusetts, home to the 104th Fighter Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard.
The settling companies are:
- Eurovia Atlantic Coast, LLC (Northeast Paving) – Maine
- The Lane Construction Corporation – Connecticut
- Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. – New York
All three admitted and accepted responsibility for their roles in the deficient project delivery.
Project and Investigation Background
In 2012, the City of Westfield began runway upgrades using federal, state, and local funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of Defense (DoD). In 2013, the City contracted Stantec for engineering and project management services and later selected Lane Construction to execute the runway work. Northeast Paving acquired some of Lane’s assets after project completion.
By 2019, structural cracks appeared at the interface between the runway’s concrete center and surrounding asphalt. The plans required a construction joint known as a “track” at this interface—one that was never built. Despite this, Lane and Stantec certified the project met all specifications. As a result of the deficiencies, the runway required significant repairs, and the 104th Fighter Wing was temporarily relocated.
Federal Response
“This case underscores the need for federal contractors to meet safety and quality obligations—especially where military infrastructure is involved,” said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley. “We will hold contractors accountable to protect public funds and national security.”
Brian C. Gallagher, Special Agent in Charge, DOT Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region, said, “The defendants cut corners and misrepresented their work. This outcome reflects our commitment to protecting taxpayer investments.”
Christopher M. Silvestro, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, added: “Ensuring the safety of the warfighter is central to our mission. This settlement shows our ongoing collaboration with DOJ and law enforcement partners to enforce compliance with defense contracting standards.”
The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Morgan of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts.
