The water main being replaced is five to six feet below street level. After the completion of preliminary work of installing a new temporary water system next week, the contractor will begin digging sections of Washington Street and Main Street to replace the 1888 water main pipe. The orange part of the pipe is one of the isolation valves installed on the old water main in recent weeks.
Latest Updates

  • Contractors plan to install a temporary water system during the week of April 19 that will service customers when the old water main is replaced. No water shutoffs are anticipated.

  • During the week of April 26, contractors plan to tie water customers into the temporary water system. The tie-ins will require temporary water shutoffs expected to last no more than an hour. Advanced notice will be provided.

  • More disruptive work is scheduled to begin the week of May 3, when contractors begin digging sections of deep trenches along Washington Street and Main Street to replace the eight-inch 133-year-old pipe with a new 12-inch main. Traffic will be reduced to one lane and detoured where necessary.

Friday, April 16:

  • Work scheduled for April 16 was rained/snowed out and rescheduled for Monday, April 19.

Monday, April 19:

  • Daytime work will include installing a fire hydrant at Chapel Street and Main Street and temporary patch paving on excavated areas.

  • Parking will be prohibited on the southerly side of Chapel Street from Main Street to the entrance of Janetto's Plaza.  

  • Chapel Street at Main Street will be closed to traffic starting in the morning. Traffic will be detoured to Broadway and Saint John Street; additional parking and detours may be required during the day to facilitate paving.

  • Paving work will occur on:
  • Broadway
  • Chapel Street
  • School Street
  • Portland Avenue
  • Young Street
  • Washington Street near TD Bank Building
  • Central Avenue and Third Street
  • Central Avenue and Broadway.

  • No water shutoffs anticipated.


Tuesday, April 20:

  • Temporary water system to be installed on Main Street between School Street and Broadway

  • Parking restrictions will be required on Main Street between Chapel Street and Broadway from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. to facilitate work. Restrictions will be lifted as work is completed.

  • No water shutoffs anticipated.

Wednesday, April 21:

  • Temporary water system to be installed on Main Street between Washington Street and School Street and on Washington Street in front of the Washington Street Mills.

  • Parking restrictions will be required on both sides of Washington Street in front of Washington Street Mills from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. to facilitate the work. Restrictions will be lifted as work is completed.

Thursday and Friday, April 22 and 23

  • Temporary water system to be installed on Washington Street from the Central Avenue/Henry Law Avenue intersection to Water Street in front of the Washington Street Mills.

  • Parking restrictions will be required on the southerly side of Washington Street from Henry Law Avenue to the front of the Washington Street Mills from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. to facilitate the work. Restrictions will be lifted as work is completed.

  • No water shutoffs anticipated.

The work schedule may change depending on conditions on the ground. Notice of significant schedule changes will be provided with as much advanced notice as possible.


About the project
The Washington and Main Water Improvements project is focused on replacing 3,000 feet of critical water main infrastructure under Washington Street and Main Street. These are some of the oldest water distribution pipes in the City of Dover that are more than 130 years old.

The contractor will install a new ductile iron pipe that will provide reliable water service for the next 100-plus years. The project began on Monday, March 22, 2021. The six-month project is expected to have significant traffic impacts and limited durations of water shutoff as infrastructure is replaced. The project remains on schedule for substantial completion on Aug. 19, 2021, and final completion on Sept. 18, 2021.

This work includes street excavation, lane closures, and overnight water shutoffs in the downtown area. See the map below for the project area, or click here for the project page with project maps.

The City encourages pedestrians and motorists to be vigilant while moving throughout the downtown area and look for signs providing information about the project and sections of streets and sidewalks closed for construction. Uneven road conditions and sidewalks are likely to occur, so please use caution driving, riding bikes and walking in the area.

To receive these email updates about the project, visit bit.ly/doverdownload and select "Project updates: Washington and Main Water Improvements."
The above map shows the project area for the replacement of the water main along Main Street and Washington Street. This map and detailed maps of where isolation valves are located are available at the project page: https://www.dover.nh.gov/government/city-operations/community-services/current-projects/washington-and-main-water-improvements/