Rotary improvements to be completed this week

Date: 11/10/2008

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



EAST LONGMEADOW Drivers, be forewarned -- the rotary will be closed from 7:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. from Nov. 10 through 13 for repaving.

This is the final phase of the Center Rotary Improvement Project, and the work is scheduled to take place at night to cause the smallest possible inconvenience to those who travel through the center of town.

"We've been working on this project since late March," Sean Kelley, senior project manager for the town's Department of Public Works, said. "We had hoped to have it paved by the Fourth of July, but the gas company's endeavors took a lot longer than we thought they would."

Palmer Paving, which had the contract for the paving project earlier this year, will be doing the work this week. They will be milling (or removing) part of the existing pavement to prepare a proper base for the new pavement which will then be paved with a new asphalt surface.

Additionally, the brick crosswalks on Maple Street and Shaker Road will be coming out because they are a "maintenance nightmare," according to Kelley. The bricks will be replaced with duratherm blocks, which are more durable, and which will be laid out in a brick pattern.

The blocks will be put in place at every other crosswalk around the rotary as well.

During this final phase of the project, a small traffic island will be added to the Elm Street spoke of the rotary, with the right lane becoming right turn only and the left lane the only entrance to the rotary. Kelley said this will prevent two cars from entering at the same time from Elm Street.

On North Main Street, a third lane will be created -- a right turn only lane will be marked out for those wishing to enter the Center Square Plaza.

"People are already creating three lanes there, so we thought we'd make it official," Kelley stated.

The paving project is not limited to the rotary, however. Portions of all the roads leading into and away from the rotary will be paved as well.

Detours will be set up and police details will be redirecting traffic during the construction. Travel delays can be expected during these hours.