Major Roadwork Along Trapelo Road Starts Today

Belmont is about to witness some of its major roadways ripped up for the next year as part of the town's renovation of the water distribution system.

The work along Belmont Street and Trapelo Road Corridor will allow the town's Department of Public Works to continue to supply drinking water to homes and businesses as well as improve fire flows throughout the town.  

The water main and services are being replaced in preparation of the resurfacing of state roads.

Construction is scheduled to begin May 24 with 500 feet on Mill Street through the intersection of Trapelo Road up to Pleasant Street.  

Work will take place Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Some of the work may have to be done at night, depending on how construction would impact traffic and water use during the day. This segment of water main replacement should be completed on or before June 26.  

After June 26, construction is scheduled for the section of Belmont Street and Trapelo Road from Worcester Street to Cushing Square.  

Residents should expect construction to continue through the fall. The work should be completed by next spring 2011.

The DPW does not expect that the roadway will be closed to through traffic at any point during construction. It is possible that in more narrow areas of the road, traffic could be reduced to one lane, alternating two-way traffic, but there will be attempts to maintain two lanes of traffic during the majority of the project.  

Drivers are encouraged to seek alternate routes around the project area when construction is in progress. The road will be open to regular traffic conditions once construction has finished for the day.

All residents and businesses will continue to have water service throughout the construction. However, there may be times when the water service to a residence or business will need to be interrupted for more than two hours.  In that case, homeowners and businesses will receive approximately 24-hours notice prior to any disruptions.  

There will also be occasions when workers will need to gain access to a residence or business in order to transfer its water service to temporary water pipe or to the newly installed water main.  

A Belmont Water Division site representative will be located at the construction site for the duration of the project in order to coordinate construction, public notifications, and the transfer of water services.  He will also be available to address any of your questions or concerns during construction.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority runs the number 73 electric buses to the Belmont Street and Trapelo Road. Bus service will remain during the water main construction but bus passengers will experience some minor disruptions.

The MBTA will de-energize the electric bus lines and run diesel buses on the route for the duration of construction. While the construction crew is working in front of a bus stop, it may be necessary to close that bus stop for a short duration until the water main trench is backfilled but no more than one day.  

Signs will be posted at each closed bus stop, notifying passengers of the closure and indicating the location of the nearest open bus stop.  

Throughout the construction process, the Belmont DPW will be working with Belmont residents/business owners and Belmont's engineering consultant, Weston & Sampson Engineers, Inc., to coordinate and handle any issues that may arise due to construction. A representative from the DPW will be onsite with the construction crew at all times, instrumental in assisting residents and businesses in dealing with the day-to-day construction activities.

Questions relating to the project or its schedule should be directed to the engineering consultant, Weston & Sampson, at 978-532-1900, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Or call the DPW office at (617) 993-2680.