WESTFORD CENTER — Summer has officially begun, and with it comes the summer construction season.
Among the many projects that Westford Public Works crews are involved in this summer, is the ongoing reconstruction of Boston Road, which began in April of last year.
The $15.6 million reconstruction project, which is being managed and funded by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation in partnership with the Town of Westford, is aimed largely at correcting long-standing drainage problems along Boston Road.
In addition to fixing the drainage problems, the project also aims to improve road safety and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists, by adding a five foot bicycle lane and eleven foot travel lanes in each direction of the roadway.
In an update in April, town officials reported that new utility poles were installed along the roadway and that utility providers transferred the overhead lines to the new poles.
The construction of a new storm drainage system was completed later in the spring, which includes 66 catch basins, 41 drainage manholes and over 6,400 feet of pipe ranging from 10 to 36 inches in diameter.
During the June 9 Select Board meeting, the board unanimously approved a $2,000,000 water main to be installed beneath Boston Road as part of the next phase of the project.
Assistant Town Engineer Jeremy Downs recently spoke to The Westford Villager to give an update on how the project has been progressing.
“Most of the work right now is focused on the water distribution system, so replacing the existing water main,” Downs said. “Last year most of the focus was related to drainage and right now it’s the water system.”
Downs also reaffirmed that the Boston Road detour route remains in effect as the roadway is closed Mondays through Fridays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. for crews to complete their work. Temporary traffic signals were also installed along the roadway last year and Downs said they will remain in place until the project is completed.
Town officials previously stated they expect that the project will be substantially completed by November, which marks the end of the fall construction season. Contractors are then set to return the following spring to complete minor finishing work and cleanup.
Downs was asked if the project was still set to be completed at the anticipated time.
“We’ll know better as we approach fall,” Downs said. “After the water main is done, they’ll get into the road reconstruction and sidewalks and granite curb, and all those other features of the project.”
Downs was also asked if the recent heat wave that Westford experienced had any impact on the road work.
“No, they continued to work through the heat,” Downs said. “They’re used to it, it’s New England. You know, we have all different conditions. They work when they can, in inclement weather. They were working as much as they could yesterday in the rain.”
