A Swellesley reader asked why imminent construction activity regarding a water main project in the Bacon Street/Rte. 135 area of Natick would also impact Wellesley. We reached out to the Wellesley Department of Public Works to find out, and here’s what the DPW’s Bill Shaughnessy shared with us:

“The answer to your question is that the Town of Natick,Department of Public Works contracted with W. Walsh Company to rehabilitate water mains through cleaning and lining along East Central Street and Bacon Street both in Natick and in Wellesley. The mains in Wellesley are Natick mains and the drinking water is from their wells. Natick’s engineer contacted both the Natick and Wellesley police to get approval of the detour plan. Natick also contacted the DPW to make us aware that they would need to close the road to dig access pits to do the work.

The following notification is also being issued today:

NOTIFICATION

EAST CENTRAL & BACON STREET

WATER MAIN CLEANING LINING PROJECT

Bacon Street from Central Street (Route 135) in Wellesley to Oak Street in Natick is closed to through traffic 8:30 am to 3:00 pm this week (August 5 to 9, 2019).

The Town of Natick, Department of Public Works contracted with W. Walsh Company (Contractor), 32 Walton Street, Attleboro, MA 02703, to rehabilitate water mains through cleaning and lining along East Central Street and Bacon Street both in Natick and in Wellesley.

Bacon Street will be open to traffic starting Friday night. However there may be delays next week as the traffic may be restricted to one lane to complete the project.

The detour routes are as follows:

Vehicles traveling east on Rt 135 intending to turn onto Bacon will be detoured into Natick and directed to turn right onto Mansfield Street, then Marion Street then onto Bacon Street.

Vehicles traveling south on Oak Street in Natick and intending to turn down Bacon to Rt 135 will be detoured through Marion Street and onto Rt 135 in Natick.

We appreciate your forbearance with this important drinking water quality project. If you have any questions, or concerns throughout the project, please do not hesitate to contact Natick’s Project Manager, Gregory Eldridge from Haley and Ward, Inc. at (978) 648-6025 or email him at geldridge@haleyward.com.

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