AMHERST – Sidewalks being rebuilt on East Pleasant Street near Kendrick Park will continue to be the focus of Department of Public Works projects next week.
The work is part of a $1.5 million project funded by the state’s MassWorks grant program to put underground the overhead utility lines at the northern end of downtown, and to prepare for a roundabout that will replace the intersection of East Pleasant and Triangle streets.
Department of Public Works Superintendent Guilford Mooring told the Select Board this week that on the east side of East Pleasant, a temporary sidewalk, using asphalt, will be installed so that it can be used by pedestrians during the winter.
This will also allow utility companies that still need to make connections to the underground conduits to do so without damaging a permanent sidewalk.
On the west side of East Pleasant, where utility work is complete, the sidewalks will be concrete, Mooring said.
Mooring said the DPW had hoped to install some of the granite curbing for the future roundabout, but the curbing has not yet been cut and may not arrive in time to be put in before winter.
Other work, including berm installation, will be completed on Larkspur Drive, along with sidewalk and driveway work on Teaberry Lane.
Meanwhle, Shumway Street, where new water and sewer lines were installed, is expected to be resurfaced by Thanksgiving.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
