Council calls for update on city street construction in the face of Main Street gas work
The City Council wants a “clear update” on all planned construction projects on city streets to prepare residents for this year’s construction season.
Councilors have asked city departments to provide details on all public or private work that will impact roadways around the city through the summer and fall months, when companies and municipalities typically schedule construction projects due to the favorable weather conditions.
The request for this information went out at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
Councilor-at-Large Tim King requested that Department of Public Works Director Michael Chiasson and City Engineer Robert Winn attend next Monday’s Public Works and Public Safety Committee meeting to detail ongoing and upcoming projects that will affect the city’s streets.
Ward 8 Councilor Cathyann Harris requested they also provide updates on the projects’ plans for rodent mitigation.
These requests came at the same meeting that utility company National Grid briefed councilors on its plans to install 2,105 feet of plastic piping under Main Street between Weston Street and 776 Main St., where the post office is located, and 205 feet of pipe on nearby side streets. The new pipes would replace older pipes, some of which date back to 1904.
National Grid representative Mary Mulroney said the company will follow all DPW requirements such as those for traffic control and replacement of damaged sidewalks and roads.
She said National Grid agreed to complete its current pipe replacement project around Felton Street before starting the Main Street work.
Mulroney said National Grid is working with the Police Department to devise a traffic management plan, adding that Main Street will never be completely closed during construction.
Mulroney said the company has not yet identified an off-street location to store construction equipment and materials but understands the council expects it to do so before starting the project.
The council’s Licenses and Franchises Committee will further review the National Grid plans at its Monday meeting.
Author
Comments (1)
Comments are closed.
This is an example of our city’s reactive approach to infrastructure and utility coordination which results in a perpetual state of road construction. It would be great if we could shift toward a more proactive planning approach. The city needs to prioritize infrastructure investment over borrowing money to acquire real estate, such as the 600 Main Street property, which drains the capital budget. We would all benefit from a transition away from temporary fixes to a proactive, funded plan.