Paving began today on Washington Street, a welcome sight for neighbors and the many who depend on it for getting in and out of town and have endured it being closed since June.
Paving was scheduled to continue tomorrow but the forecast for the possibility of rain will delay work until Monday, according to city staff.
Due to an unfavorable forecast, the paving previously scheduled for tomorrow, has been rescheduled for Monday the 26th. Unfortunately, the top lift of asphalt cannot be placed unless the asphalt below it is dry.
Traffic delays in the immediate area of the project were not as bad as forecast but city staff warn the next day of paving will see more impactful delays on the detour route. Drivers are advised to take alternative routes or leave earlier to allow for potential delays.
But paving is not the last step in the project. There remains landscaping, road surface marking, raising the manhole covers. As a result, the forecast for completion is early October and that is weather dependent.