By GLYNIS HART
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CLAREMONT – Construction on Main Street will be extended into the evening for the next few days, due to demolition of an underground tunnel at the intersection of Main and Central streets.
Beginning Wednesday, the detour will be in effect all day through Friday, including the evenings of Wednesday, July 11 and Thursday, July 12. All businesses and residences will continue to be accessible via the Union Street side of Main Street. Main Street is scheduled to be opened fully by late Friday afternoon, July 13 and normal detour hours of 6:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. will resume Monday, July 16.
According to Scott Ozana of McFarland Johnson, Inc., which is managing the Main Street project, construction may continue until Thanksgiving.
“It’s a complete infrastructure replacement,” said McFarland. Sewer lines, water lines and drainage pipes have been removed and will be replaced. “They basically have to come up the road with three different trenches, and there needs to be sewer and water services to each house.”
The underground tunnel, that used to serve the Joy Manufacturing company’s buildings on both sides of the street, crosses the road at a skewed angle and then turns to run parallel to Main Street. Ozana said the tunnel under the road has to be dug up and demolished, but the section that’s parallel to the street will remain intact.
“They need to get all the infrastructure through – it can’t just float on air. That’s why they have to demolish the tunnel.”
Ozana said once this section of Main Street is completed, they’ll tackle another one south of the current section, but because there are fewer houses on it, it won’t take as long.
“Next we’re going to dig two feet down and put in all new structural gravel,” said Ozana. “That’ll make it so there’s a really good surface for heavy traffic, then base paving, then a curbing company will come in. Once the curbs are in they can put in sidewalks.”
The project will install sidewalks on both sides of the street, except for a section where the houses are too close to the center line. In addition to sidewalks, there will be parking spaces and grassy areas.
“It’s going to be a big difference when it’s done,” said Ozana.
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