Latest Updates

  • Contractors are scheduled to dig temporary water connection pits Monday and Tuesday, May 3 and 4, along Main Street and Washington Street.

  • Individual connections to the temporary water system are planned to occur Wednesday through Friday, May 5-7. Temporary water shutoffs will be required and expected to last no more than two to three hours.

  • City of Dover staff is reaching out to water customers to schedule times for water hookups.

  • All work next week, including temporary water shutoffs, are scheduled to occur during daytime hours.

  • More disruptive work is likely to begin the week of May 17, 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 water main. Traffic will be reduced to one lane and detoured where necessary.

  • Drivers should pay close attention to the construction signs when driving and parking downtown. Temporary water mains are laid along the curb and marked by construction barrels and signs. If water lines are hit by a vehicle, it could result in a rupture of the lines and damage to the vehicle.

  • Many steel plates will be placed on the sidewalks in the downtown area. Pedestrians should remain attentive and use caution when walking along sidewalks in work areas.

  • Report any damage to the temporary water system to police dispatch at 603-742-4646.

Monday, May 3:

  • Excavation of temporary water connection pits on Washington Street between Central Avenue and the Washington Street Bridge. Pits will be covered with steel plates once excavated. 

  • Parking restrictions will be in place on the north side of Washington Street between Central Avenue and the Washington Street Bridge. Restrictions will be removed as work is completed.

  • No water shutoffs anticipated.

Tuesday, May 4:

  • Excavation of temporary water connection pits on Central Avenue between Chapel Street and Broadway. Pits will be covered with steel plates once excavated.

  • Parking restrictions will be required along Central Avenue between Chapel Street and Broadway. Restrictions will be removed as work is completed. 

  • No water shutoffs anticipated.

Wednesday through Friday, May 5-7:

  • Contractors will be connecting properties to the temporary water system. The City is reaching out to water customers to schedule two to three-hour time blocks for temporary water shutoffs. 

  • Water shutoffs are not anticipated to extend beyond the scheduled time blocks. 

  • Intermittent parking restrictions will be required throughout the work area as contractors connect water users to the temporary water system.

The work schedule may change depending on conditions on the ground, and as much advanced notice as possible will be provided for significant schedule changes.


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/