CPW: Road Paving Projects Still Planned as Scheduled

Despite recent wet weather and the continued threat of rain in the forecast, Laws Brook Road paving is planned for Wednesday, June 12, and the Grant Street neighborhood on Thursday.

It's looked like rain an awful lot lately, but it doesn't look like Mother Nature will wash out Concord Public Works' paving plans for this week.  Despite recent wet weather and the continued threat of rain in the forecast, CPW Director Rich Reine confirmed Tuesday that Laws Brook Road paving is still scheduled for tomorrow, June 12, with the Grant Street neighborhood on deck for Thursday.  The details on the Laws Brook work, as posted to the town website:  Concord Public Works' contractor for the Roads Program is planning on paving Laws Brook Rd (from #328 Laws Brook Rd. to the town line) on Wednesday, June 12.  Please prepare for delays or seek an alternate route, if possible. This work is weather dependent. According to the National …

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CPW, Students Celebrate Public Works Week in Concord

Concord Public Works hosted more than 230 eighth-graders from Concord Middle School on Wednesday, May 22. Click through the photos and videos above to get a sense for the seventh annual celebration. 'Because of Public Works ...' was the theme.

  For the seventh year, Concord Public Works and eighth-graders from Concord Middle School joined together to celebrate Public Works Week with a special event, held Wednesday, May 22. This year's theme was "Because of Public Works ..." and CPW staff orchestrated a host of activities and events to showcase the theme, according to an event summary provided by Anna Trout, administrative and special projects coordinator for CPW. Those events included: Trout and the CPW team spent months in preparation for this event in coordination with Doug Shattuck, the Applied Technology teacher at CMS.  Planning begins once again for the next year as soon as the event concludes, according to Trout. More from the summary: Richard Reine, the director of …

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Concord Public Works Braces for Impending Blizzard

The roads have been treated and the cavalry called in as CPW prepares for a snowstorm expected to blanket Concord and surrounding areas with as much as two feet of snow.

The first trucks hit the roads Thursday afternoon, coating local streets with a salt brine mixture that should help buy Concord Public Works some time once the snow starts. And once it starts, it’s not expected to stop until a significant amount of the white stuff has accumulated – as much as 18 to 24 inches over Friday and Saturday, according to most forecasts. Expecting a whopper of a storm, local officials have held meetings over the past few days and expect them to continue into tomorrow. CPW has two-dozen of its own vehicles prepped and expects about 16 more from contractors who’ll help to keep the roads clear. That could prove difficult – at its worst, the oncoming storm have winds whipping at 40 miles per hour or more as the …

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ADA Compliant Sidewalk Ramps; Community Food Plan; Medical Reserve Corps

This week, from the office of Town Manager Christopher Whelan

  The following information comes from Town Manager Christopher Whelan's weekly report. The Concord Public Works Department has begun preliminary survey and design for the 2012 sidewalk maintenance program. The sections of sidewalks tentatively included in the plan are on Fairhaven Road, Monument Square, Commonwealth Avenue, Old Bedford Road, Fox Lane, Belknap Street, Grant Street, and the Rideout Playground parking lot. Also included in the preliminary plan is the installation of ADA compliant ramps on sidewalks along Old Bedford Road, Bedford Street, Main Street, and Walden Street. According to Whelan's report, the design will be completed in the coming weeks, with public hearings, outreach, and bid preparation taking place to allow work…

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Traffic Advisory: Fitchburg Turnpike Closure Scheduled for Tomorrow

CPW advises of traffic detour scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 22.

The Concord Public Works Department issued the following traffic advisory. On Saturday, Oct. 22, CPW and other forces will be replacing an antiquated and failing culvert on Fitchburg Turnpike (Rte. 117). In order to do this work in the safest and quickest way possible, the section of Fitchburg Turnpike (Rte. 117) from Plainfield Road to Sudbury Road will be closed on Saturday morning with the anticipation of opening it later that evening. The detour for this closure will be via Plainfield, Sudbury and Wheeler Roads. Please anticipate heavier traffic than normal, time delays and other disturbances during this time. We thank you for your patience and understanding in this essential project. If you have any questions, please contact the CPW …

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Image Gallery: Concord's Drop Off, Swap Off

Pictures from Concord's annual household item swap and drop off event.

The town of Concord hosted the annual Drop Off, Swap Off event this weekend, where residents had the opportunity to bring their used, but still functioning housewares to the Public Works Department on Keyes Road to trade with other folks. There were also a number of services on hand allowing people to recycle light bulbs, packing foam, and other items that can't go into regular garbage and end up taking up space in basements and garages. Volunteers helped with everything from traffic and parking, to carrying and sorting items for donation and recycling. Photographer Frank Breen stopped by the Drop Off, Swap Off and took these pictures.

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Town Manager's Report: Fire Station Renovations, Senior Concerns, and Requests for Proposals

Highlights from Town Manager Christopher Whelan's weekly report.

The following information was provided in Town Manager Christopher Whelan's weekly report. Renovations to the two fire stations are moving along. The first floor work in Station 1 is progressing, with the plastering work complete and painting beginning this week with trim work to follow. At Station 2, bids for the cupola went out in September, and the contract has been awarded to Laliberty Construction, with work beginning this week. Fire Chief Mark Cotreau will also represent Concord at a Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency briefing this week to begin the application process for reimbursement for resources expended during Tropical Storm Irene. A number of requests for proposals were issued by the town recently. Two came from the …

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CPW Cleaning the System

Concord Public Works will be flushing out water mains over the next couple weeks to reduce sediment from the town's water supply system and keep the water in your home clean and flowing.

The Concord Public Works Department is beginning the biannual fall water main flushing today. According to the CPW, "Flushing is routinely conducted in spring and fall because the demand for water tends to be at its lowest and cold weather is not an issue. "Water mains are flushed for several reasons. It allows hydrants to be periodically used and identified for maintenance or replacement and provides an opportunity for tests to be done to determine if water flow and pressure are sufficient."  According to a notice issued by the CPW this week, residents should be aware of a few things during the flushing process. Here is the tentative schedule for flushing activities over the next couple of weeks: Oct. 11-12 — Monument Street, Great …

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About Town

Got Hazardous Waste?

Monthly collection happens this Sunday.

I have been trying to clean out my garage for several months now, but I just can’t seem to get motivated. Part of the problem, I’m sure, comes from not really knowing what to do with all the STUFF. I know I can repurpose some of the furniture, and donate the old sports equipment. But trying to figure out the rest of it is so overwhelming that I avoid it by just not even starting the task. Crazy, I know, especially since there’s probably stuff that qualifies as hazardous waste in there, and I don’t have many more months to pull that together and get rid of it. Did you know that Concord’s curbside collection program includes hazardous waste disposal to subscribers? Here’s the deal: once a month, from April to November, the Minuteman Regional…

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About Town

Update: You Never Know Who You'll Run Into/A Busy Week in Concord

Meeting old friends, and a big thanks to the CPW.

Hello, and welcome to the first post-Labor Day Wednesday. September is here and children are returning to school. For many that is welcome news, but for those of you that are already missing your "little baby," I will try to offset that with this happy note. Keep on Trekking On Friday, my post mentioned that a portion of the Battle Road Trail was closed due to damage from Hurricane Irene. The folks at Minute Man National Historic Park predicted that the trails will open by Sept. 14, but I added that I will not be surprised if the trails are opened sooner. Well, guess what!? Good news and I am happy to be right. I received an e-mail on Monday from Roger Fuller of the MMNHP, who said the trails have been cleared and are now ready to be …

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