WESTFORD CENTER — Tadmuck Lane was closed down to all through traffic on Monday, after Westford Public Works discovered a large hole in the road.
According to a statement from Public Works, the emergency road closure was initiated Monday afternoon, after the road was determined to be unsafe for traffic. Upon initial inspection, crews determined that a five foot wide corrugated metal culvert carrying Tadmuck Brook under Tadmuck Lane had failed, causing the large hole to form in the pavement.
Crews closed down both ends of Tadmuck Lane to all traffic, placing barricades on both sides of the failure area, with only residential access to the area allowed.
Additionally, crews inspected the nearby Dana Drive culvert, which Tadmuck Brook also travels through, out of precaution.
“A failure at that location could impact access for approximately 19 homes and proactive evaluation is underway to prevent further disruption,” the Public Works statement said.
Public Works also called the incident “a significant infrastructure failure,” which may “require a complex and potentially costly repair,” comparing the magnitude of the incident to previous major culvert replacements carried out by the town.
On Tuesday, crews reviewed the damage on the culvert and reportedly found significant structural deterioration and section loss along portions of the culvert barrel. Following this assessment, crews determined that the road was unsafe to support traffic and will likely need to be closed for long-term repairs.
Public Works said crews will be working in the area throughout the upcoming days and are urging drivers to seek alternate routes and to avoid the area while repairs are being made.
