Main Street reconstruction gets green light
May 6, 2020 | By Lisa Scagliotti
Gov. Phil Scott’s announcement last Friday regarding construction crews paves the way for Waterbury’s Main Street reconstruction project to reopen for the 2020 season.
“J.A. McDonald will be starting back work on the Main Street Reconstruction project. Their work plan is modified to take into consideration the Covid-19 safety plans in Governor Scott’s executive orders. They are starting slowly with small work groups that will expand in time,” said Barb Farr, Waterbury’s transportation liaison staffer.
Farr provides online and email updates on the $21 million project that began in 2019 and is expected to finish in 2021. Work was scheduled to begin this year at the end of March but was delayed due to public health shutdowns to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Gov. Scott last week amended his Stay Home, Stay Safe executive order to begin to allow construction crews to work within guidelines such as keeping six feet apart and wearing facemasks.
The three-year project will rebuild Main Street and its curbs and sidewalks, replace underground water and sewer lines, and bury overhead utility lines underground.
Starting this week, two five-person crews were expected to begin working in different segments of the project. Activity is expected to ramp up gradually as restrictions are eased based on public health guidelines from the state, Farr said.
The first phases of work will be focused in the stretch of Main Street between Stowe Street and Park Row and between Batchelder Street and the project field office at 158 South Main Street.
The State Office Complex side of Park Row will be closed temporarily through Friday to Randall Street for installation of underground conduit. More duct bank installation will continue near the firestation toward the Northfield Savings Bank parking lot to Elm Street, Farr explained.
On the other end of Main Street, the temporary sidewalks and driveways from Batchelder Street to the VTrans Field Office will be excavated to prepare for the permanent concrete sidewalks to be poured.
More details on the Main Street project are online at waterburyworks.com.