Route 1 Project - Weekly Update (6-16-15)
FALMOUTH ROUTE ONE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT
Construction Update #41 – June 16, 2015
The following information reflects the latest available information regarding the Route One Infrastructure Project in Falmouth. Please note that forward-looking information is based upon projections and is subject to change due to weather and other variables.
WORK HOURS:
Work in the Route One Infrastructure Project zone for the remainder of this week will begin at approximately 6:00 a.m. and last until approximately 4:30 p.m. Night work involving utilities cutovers to individual businesses may also occur. Some cutover work is also likely to occur on weekend evenings. Cutover work will be scheduled directly between utilities contractors and the businesses themselves.
GENERAL OVERVIEW:
Crews are busy all along the corridor. The work is focused on tying in the new infrastructure with current businesses. Other work includes lighting and traffic signal systems along Route One. For example, visiting the site shows increasing numbers of street lights and pedestrian signal pole bases now in place – as are control cabinets for those features. Sidewalk pedestrian lighting poles have not yet been installed, but crews have been establishing the wiring and control systems to support them.
A word on the street lighting: many of the lights are now in place. Those that haven’t yet been installed await either fire hydrant relocation, removal of overhead utilities, or both. Ultimately, the plans call for these fixtures in an alternating pattern along the corridor, except at key intersections and crosswalks where additional lighting is required to enhance pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular safety.
Cutover work by CMP and the communications companies continue.
In addition, Summit Natural Gas is continuing to connect businesses to their new gas line.
With the installation of so many new lighting features, the streetscape along the corridor looks cluttered. However, the overhead utilities will soon be dismantled and the utility poles will be removed. In fact, Fairpoint has already begun removing its cabling from overhead service in areas where it has completed customer cutovers.
WORK CURRENTLY UNDERWAY:
As of Tuesday, June 16, crews were working on – or have completed – the following:
• Extensive curbing work. Crews from Granite State have been doing curb work at many locations, from F.O. Bailey up to Bucknam Road. This includes sloped curbing at a number of driveway entrances. Today (Tuesday) is likely the last day of curb work until mid-July, when curb installers will return to finish other sections and install the curbing for median traffic and crosswalk islands.
• Wiring and control cabinet installation for street, pedestrian and crosswalk lighting and signals.
• Re-establishment of route and traffic signage. Please note: we’ve heard from several businesses who question the placement of STOP signs at their driveway exits. While certainly we understand the question, these signs are required by state law.
• We are delighted to announce that trees are being planted! As of today, we have received our first shipment – 21 maple trees – and these are currently being installed. The maples are one of five species that will line the corridor; project planners, including volunteers from the community, carefully considered which species to plant. Factors leading to their selection include growth rate, shape, size at maturity, salt tolerance and both leaf and flower color.
WORK YOU’RE LIKELY TO SEE THROUGH THE END OF THIS WEEK:
• Continued installation of roadway lighting and control systems
• Continued installation of roadway signage
• Continued utilities cutovers (utilities and contractors will contact businesses individually to schedule)
WORK YOU’RE LIKELY TO SEE EARLY NEXT WEEK:
• In addition to continuing the above projects, you may expect to see a road crossing on the west side of Route One at the Bucknam Road intersection, between the Irving Convenience Store and the first traffic island. This is necessary to install an additional conduit. This is likely to happen Monday. The right-hand lane – between the corner and the island – is likely to be closed during this work. Flaggers will direct east-bound traffic on Bucknam Road into the center corridor for both right- and left-hand turns.
• Resumption of loaming, grading and clean-up work.
• Crews currently expect to remove an unused pipe that crosses Route One near Pratt Abbott Cleaners on Wednesday of next week. We’ll provide more detail in next Tuesday’s edition.
PHOTOGRAPHS:
Looking north from the front of F.O. Bailey Antiquarians, we see a crew from Granite State Curbing installing new granite curbstone.
We’re looking west on Bucknam Road. This is another curbing crew setting stone. When the stone is properly bedded, concrete is poured around it to ensure that the stone remains in its correct position.
We’re looking south from the front of Morong. This maple tree was planted today!