FRIDAY, OCT. 22, 2021
Latest updates

Work on the Central Avenue North Water Improvements Project will begin next week by the Old Rollinsford Road intersection before moving to a different Central Avenue location closer to Glenwood Avenue.

Monday, Oct. 25 to Tuesday, Oct. 26
 
  • Work continues near the Old Rollinsford Road area as it ties part of the new water main into an existing water main.

  • Southbound traffic will be detoured around the work area via Lowell Avenue, Mount Vernon Street, and Ash Street. Northbound traffic will continue through the worksite.

Tuesday, Oct. 26 to Wednesday, Oct. 27
 
  • Once the water main tie-in is complete, work will shift to the area of 829 Central Ave. near Papa Gino's.

  • The contractor plans to install a service line and dig test pits.

  • Motorists should expect only one lane of traffic through the work zone, alternated by flaggers. Significant traffic backups may occur. Drivers who can avoid the project area entirely are encouraged to do so. 

Thursday, Oct. 28 to Friday, Oct. 29

  • After completing the test pits, the contractor will begin installing new pipe in the area of 825 Central Ave. near Woof Meow.

  • The contractor will pave the week's work areas Friday afternoon.

  • Motorists should expect only one lane of traffic through the work zone, alternated by flaggers. Significant traffic backups may occur. Drivers who can avoid the project area entirely are encouraged to do so. 
 
The contractor will continue to work extended hours, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday.
 
The contractor has been notifying residents and businesses in advance when driveway access may be temporarily blocked to complete work. However, the contractor stresses that access can quickly be established when requested. Residents and businesses with specific access concerns should contact Community Services Deputy Director Bill Boulanger at 603-516-6450 or b.boulanger@dover.nh.gov.
 
Project overview
The Central Avenue North Water Improvements Project replaces two sections of water mains. One is a 133-year-old, 14-inch water main from Lowell Avenue to Abbey Sawyer Memorial Drive, a critical piece of the City of Dover’s water system infrastructure. The other is an undersized six-inch water main from Glenwood Avenue to Lowell Avenue installed in 1927. Both mains will be replaced with 16-inch ductile iron pipes that are expected to last the next 100-150 years. The project will significantly improve reliability and fire flow capacity. The improvements will also provide better interconnection between the City’s two pressure zones, increasing the water system’s reliability throughout the City.

The project is anticipated to be substantially complete by mid to late December, weather permitting. A complete street paving overlay will occur next spring.

After a competitive bid process, the City Council awarded the construction contract to N. Granese & Sons, Inc. of Salem, Massachusetts, the same contractor as the Washington and Main Water Improvements Project.

The project is expected to create traffic backups in and near the project area. Residents and businesses in the construction area with questions or concerns should contact Deputy Community Services Director Bill Boulanger at b.boulanger@dover.nh.gov or 516-6450. Boulanger is the project manager.

The City of Dover provides frequent email updates about the project to help residents and businesses plan for disruption along Central Avenue. To sign-up for these updates, visit https://bit.ly/dovernewsletters, add “Project update: Central Avenue North Water Improvements Project” to your current email subscription list.

The above map shows the project area for the replacement of the water main along Central Avenue from Glennwood Avenue to Abbey Sawyer Memorial Drive, the entrance to Garrison Hill.