Construction continues on Chestnut Street as part of the 20-year, $165 million Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) abatement project.
As you can see from the video, it’s a major disruption to businesses on that stretch of Chestnut Street, which includes Hien’s House of Tailoring, CC’s Consignment Boutique, Modern Gypsy vintage store, and the new Beanstalk Cafe, and it’s only going to continue as the project moves north on Chestnut Street, toward Bridge Street, according to the city’s Chief Engineer in the Department of Public Works/Environmental Protection Division, Fred McNeill.
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In a recent project update, McNeill wrote:
“The North Chestnut Street Sewer Separation Project is now entering its second month and we are currently working in the area of Chestnut Street between Hanover and Merrimack. This two-year project consists of six work areas (see attached map). We are scheduled to complete work areas No. 1 and a portion of No. 2 in 2014 and the remainder in 2015. Attached is our current construction schedule for the remainder of 2014.
As many of you have seen, this is a large scale construction project that inherently causes temporary disruptions due to size and magnitude of the work. Engineering staff are on site during construction to assist local business and residents with issues and concerns. Police details are also on site to assist with detours and traffic control. We maintain a calendar of area events that we monitor to minimize disruptions to the area. The next major event is the September 11th and 12th closure of Hanover Street.
We will continue to provide periodic construction updates to this distribution list and on EPD’s website. As always, if you have any questions, or require any additional information, please feel free to contact us at your convenience.”
It would be a great gesture of support if you would find a place to park and walk the block or so to say hello and maybe spend some dollars during this construction disruption in these businesses.
You can contact McNeill with your questions and concerns at FMcNeill@manchesterNH.gov.
Editor’s note: In an effort to practice what I preach, stopped in to CC’s Consignment on Sept. 3 and had the whole place to myself for a short while, until another regular customer came in. It was my first time, and I found some great deals on some beautiful clothing in a range of sizes – and I had a hard time pulling myself away from the handcrafted jewelry display. Modern Gypsy was closed – I suspect because the concentration of the construction work was right in front of their door. And I didn’t make it to Beanstalk, since it was past closing time for them (7 a.m. to 2 p.m.). Also, I don’t have any current tailoring needs, but I am looking around for something with a broken zipper or in need of hemming to drop off at Hein’s next time I am in the neighborhood.
