Big Drain Project Prompts Business Concerns About Lost July Revenue

The contractor installing the new water drainage pipes beneath the streets of downtown Marblehead compared the project Monday night to a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle.

That characterization did not reassure the 30 business owners and managers who attended a briefing by the Town Administrator, the fire and police chiefs, the water and sewer commission and the contractor.  The business owners came asking for help from the town and the contractor to keep the streets open during the critical summer months so their customers can find a place to park and shop.

They learned during the briefing that there may be some days when the project turns off the water to nearby businesses and homes.

Mark Cardillo, vice president of J.P. Cardillo & Sons of Wakefield, the contractor for the project, promised that the people who wanted to shop and do business along Atlantic Avenue and neighboring streets will always have access.

"It will all come together," Cardillo promised after comparing the almost $3 million project to the puzzle.

The project to put a sleeve in the existing drainage pipe on the eastern side of Atlantic Avenue and install a new pipe on the western side begins this week. The town is also taking the opportunity to install modern water pipes and a smaller length of sewer pipes while the streets are dug up.

Some bright yellow pipes are already waiting work to begin at Hawkes Street, where a new chamber will be planted under the street in the next few weeks.

At that time, Water and Sewer Superintendent Amy McHugh said traffic on Atlantic Avenue would be blocked for a few weeks while the chamber is being installed.

After that, the crews will work in trenches 10 feet wide and 15 feet deep. Construction will start at 7 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. At night the trenches will be covered over with metal plates or filled in, said construction foreman Bob Shank.

The construction work will also disrupt Washington at Atlantic, Spring and Essex streets.

The project, which is the first phase of an almost $5 million, three-year upgrade of the storm water system, is expected to continue through the summer and deep into the fall. Cardillo said he expects the project along Atlantic Avenue will be completed by Thanksgiving.

The business owners seemed relieved to hear that the project might not hurt Christmas sales, but they were alarmed that it might hurt summer sales, particularly the week around July 4th.

Julie Livingston, president of Marblehead Bank, said the first three days of July are "prime time" for Marblehead retailers. "It is like Christmas in July."

"We are scared. This is a huge disruption for us," said George Shube, owner of Shubie's.

July 4th Concerns

The Atlantic Avenue business owners proposed that construction on the project stop for the entire first week of July, when many people come to shop for the July 4th holiday and the Festival of Arts draws thousands of people to town.

Cardillo did not like the idea, saying his crews needed to continue working. They were already being given the 4th and 5th off with pay, he said.

Town Administrator Jeff Chelgren said the town had heard the concerns of the business owners about the July week and promised to get an answer from the water and sewer commission and the contractor within 24 to 48 hours.

Marblehead residents overwhelmingly approved a Town Meeting article last year providing for a debt-exclusion override to pay for a proposed three-year $4.9 million drainage project. Reflecting the much needed improvements to the storm water system, the measure was passed on a vote of 576 to 10.

The water and sewer commission plans to install phase two of the storm water system improvements along Pleasant, School, Sewall and Bessom streets in 2014. 

"We are all aware that this is a project that has to be done," Shube said.

But he described Marblehead as "a classic summer town," which attracts thousands of visitors, who shop in local stores.  

Speaking for several of the business owners, Shube asked if the town would consider having the construction crews operate on a four-day week from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., leaving downtown construction free on Fridays.

He also proposed that the crews work at night to avoid disruption.

No Night Work

Carlton Siegel, who chairs the water and sewer commission, said night work was out of the question. "The neighbors don't want it. Night work in Marblehead is not feasible."

McHugh said night work was also impractical because supply houses for the project would be closed at night.

Chelgren promised to communicate in every way possible with the town residents and business owners to keep them updated on the progress of the construction project.

The town plans to use its Code Red, reverse 911 system, to alert residents and businesses about the project.

Police Chief Robert Picariello said he is learning how to use Twitter to keep residents and business owners informed. "I will need a lot of your patience" as he learns to tweet, he said.

Shube asked that the police officers assigned to project, act as neighborhood ambassadors, showing customers where they can park and not issued parking tickets for minor violations.

The town is also working on adding new electronic signage to point shoppers to available parking spaces.