WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 1, 2021
Water main work begins this week

Project expected to create significant traffic congestion

The Central Avenue North Water Improvements Project begins this week with equipment mobilization and pavement cutting where new 16-inch ductile iron water main pipes will be installed.

The beginning of the project coincides with the substantial completion of the downtown Washington and Main Water Improvements Project.

The first part of the project will be focused on replacing an 1888-vintage water main pipe from Lowell Avenue to Old Rollinsford Road, passing in front of Wentworth-Douglass Hospital.

When needed, traffic will be reduced to a single lane, alternated by a flagger.
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 that is nearing completion.

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 plans 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.