AMHERST – Unforeseen circumstances have resulted in the road closure on Willow Street, between Townshend Avenue and Oceanview Drive, having to be extended.
It is now anticipated that work on the project, which began Nov. 13 and was estimated to take three days, will be completed at the end of the day on Nov. 22.
The biggest issue causing the delay stemmed from the fact water laterals in the area where a pressure reducing valve chamber is being installed by Maritech Construction Inc. were deeper than originally thought.
This required the need for a larger excavation and additional trenching supports, which were difficult to provide due to the proximity of a utility pole and power line. The additional trenching supports were necessary to ensure the safety of workers on the site.
Work on a short section of exposed sanitary sewer main also had to be carried out prior to work beginning on the installation of the chamber so that crews working in the trench could do so safely.
In addition, the fittings required to connect to the deeper water laterals had to be procured by the contractor.
The installation of the chamber is part of Amherst’s $5.5-million reservoir replacement project.
Local traffic only will continue to be able to travel on Willow Street between Oceanview Drive and East Pleasant Street while the construction continues to take place. Normal traffic patterns will exist on the rest of Willow Street.
The chamber is the second of four being installed as part of the reservoir replacement project. The first chamber was installed on Church Street. Work on that part of the project wrapped up on Nov. 9.
The other two chambers will be constructed in the near future at the intersection of MacDonald Road and Highway 204, and on Robert Angus Drive.
