Originally, the Depatment of Transportation planned on having the Downtown Improvement Project for Northborough completed in March. As Town Engineer Fred Litchfield remarked at the Board of Selectmen meeting Monday night, "I don't know who would plan to complete a project in March in New England ... but it is now July."
Litchfield, provided an update to the board on the project, which is a multi-faceted effort to reconfigure and update downtown Northborough that began in full force last spring. With questions and confusion from residents ranging from issues on poles in the road, streets without piping and ill-timed street lights, many have wondered, "When's it going to be done?"
Late last week, construction on temporary pavement markings were reinstalled, putting definition to the lanes that had "been confusing people all winter."
"The timing of the signals will still need to be tweaked after the final paving goes down," said Litchfield, who commented on particular timing problems at Hudson Street onto Main Street.
"Everything is weather dependant, but it's looking good."
Litchfield also posted the status report on the Downtown Improvement Project on the on the town's website, as it appears below:
• MassDOT has extended the contract completion date to July 1, 2013.
• Week of May 13: Now that all remaining utility poles have been removed from the travel lanes and all lanes are open for travel as designed the contractor has returned to work and is in town every day. The contractor is preparing the driveway approaches. The back of the sidewalk is being loamed and seeded. The temporary pavement markings are expected to be re-installed this week which should provide some definition to the project.
• Week of May 20: The contractor will be installing granite curbing and concrete in the sidewalk areas and this work will be completed before Memorial Day. The contractor has been asked to eliminate any unnecessary signs installed as originally required on the approved plan. The island at the intersection of Church and Pierce Street will be rebuilt this week as well.
• Week of May 28: MDOT and the contractor have agreed to hold off on raising the structures within the roadway until after Memorial Day in order to avoid any trip hazards for those marching ion the parade. Raising of the structures is necessary for the installation of the final coat of asphalt.
• Week of June 3: The final coat of asphalt is expected to be installed this week and the final pavement markings will follow directly after. In order to minimize traffic conflicts the paving and striping work is expected to be done during the evening hours. The paving and striping work are also very dependent on dry weather and the completion of each of the previous items therefore this schedule is tentative at this time.
• Contact MassDOT resident engineer, Angela Padavano at 774-292-2076 with any questions or concerns you may have regarding the Downtown Traffic Improvements.