Jim Haddadin Daily News Staff @JimHaddadin

FRAMINGHAM The Downtown Common has been an unsightly mess for the last couple of months, but the green space along Concord Street should be restored to its quaint, grassy look soon.

Crews from Argus Construction are expected to finish work on the Downtown Common Improvements Project in August, according to Chief Engineer William Sedewitz.

The project, launched this spring, required ripping up the lawn and brick pathways on the historic common, which has been partially surrounded by a construction fence.

The project was expected to be substantially complete in late July, but will instead continue into next month. According to the towns website, Argus must install new irrigation and sod for the entire lawn due to the extent of tree root removal and regrading. The new sod will be installed later this month, but the area will remain off limits during a 30-day maintenance period.

Delivery of new ornamental lights is also delayed due to high demand, according to the town. The new lights wont be available until July 31 at the earliest.

It is anticipated that these combined events will delay completion to the end of August, the site reads.

Located at the intersection of Concord and Howard streets, the common traces its history to 1854. It was deeded to the town in March of that year by Lovell Eames, who stipulated the parcel located in front of the old Baptist Meeting House should be used in perpetuity as a town common.

This years beautification project launched about two days after the conclusion of the Boston Marathon in April. Intended to dovetail with the states recent upgrades of Concord Street and Union Avenue, the project includes removing some trees and shrubs, tearing up the brick pathways and taking out or resetting a portion of the existing granite bollards.

When the project is finished, the common will have new benches and trees, new granite bollards, new granite piers, and a new railing, as well as new brick walkways, granite steps and concrete sidewalks.

The old flag pole on the site will also be replaced, as will the streetlights, which are being replaced with new period lighting.

Project costs are expected to exceed $400,000. A contract for the work stipulates it must be substantially complete by mid-September, putting the towns contractor well within the allowable timetable, Sedewitz said. The town is advising motorists to expect brief delays this week as crews excavate the perimeter of the common. The sidewalk along Franklin Street will also be closed.

With any project, there seems to be spurts and lulls in the progress, Sedewitz said, but if you can witness some of the construction from the edge of the work zone, (the contractor is) doing a good job. Hopefully its going to be a very well-completed project, and hopefully the wait will be worth it.

Jim Haddadin can be reached at 617-863-7144 or jhaddadin@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter: @JimHaddadin

Continued here:
Framingham: Downtown Common project to wrap in August - Wicked Local Framingham

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