FITCHBURG — The city will close down a northern section of Main Street for over three months due to a sewer construction project that is intended to prevent stormwater runoff from entering the sanitary sewer system.
Mandated by the city’s federal court settlement with the US Environmental Protection Agency, the project will be solving an issue that had caused raw sewerage to overflow to the Nashua River during rain events.
From July 24 to Nov. 15, Main Street will be closed between the upper common near Caldwell Place to the River Street roundabout. The city is asking residents to plan accordingly and seek an alternate route. All local traffic will be rerouted to Rollstone Street and Kimball Street.
Specifically the Fitchburg Department of Public Works (DPW) Wastewater Division will be starting the construction of a sewer and drain separation project in the area north of the western end of Main Street. Contracted for the project, Weston & Sampson will have a resident engineer on site inspecting the construction project.
Eastbound truck routes will be redirected from River Street to Kimball Street to Rollstone Street and to Main Street. Westbound truck routes will be redirected from Summer Street to Fifth Street to Water Street to Laurel Street an to Kimball Street.
While one section of Main Street section is now closed the city has reopened all of the roads that were closed due to the July 16 rain event.
Wasterwater Alert
Due to the July 16 weather event that caused widespread flooding, the DPW also released a wastewater alert to residents on July 21, asking them to avoid contact with the North Nashua River for 48 hours due to a combined sewer overflow.
The overflow occurred at the Easterly Wastewater Treatment Facility at 24 Lanides Lane and caused what was likely to consist of untreated or partially treated sewage and waste to overflow into the North Nashua River. The city suggests avoiding contact with the North Nashua River for 48 hours after the discharge or overflow ceases due to increased health risks from bacteria and other pollutants.
Find out more information on the City of Fitchburg’s website.
