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The summer-long closure of a major north-south artery into New Canaan is off to a so-so start, officials said Tuesday.
This week, the water company began installing a 36-inch pipe along South Avenue, between Harrison Avenue and Farm Road. The work will continue up until school starts again.
According to Public Works Director Tiger Mann, municipal officials started receiving feedback immediately from motorists.
“It only took 15 minutes to get the first complaint,” Mann said during a regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen, held at Town Hall and via videoconference.
Within 10 feet, Aquarion “had to go underneath the waterline, which was unanticipated,” Mann said.
“They were able to fix that but it will take them three days to get out of the Harrison intersection, and then Harrison will be part of the detour itself,” he said. “They will then move the barricades so residents can go down either Bank Street or Harrison Avenue to get around the area.”

Construction takes place on South Avenue to install the water pipe. Credit: Valentina Baldini
Selectman Steve Karl noted that there are multiple signs informing motorists of the closure and detours.
The comments came during a general update to the Selectmen about public works projects in town.
The work will continue until the first day of school [Aug. 26], Mann has said. The state Department of Transportation is allowing multiple crews in the area—an usual allowance—in order to fit the tight time frame, Mann said.
“They normally do not allow multiple crews within one mile of each other, but they’re allowing it here in order to fit the time frame we have,” he said.
Police officers at each end of the work zone said that they worked with locals to explain how to navigate the area, Mann said. Eventually, drivers will start to understand they will have to go around the work zone, he said.
“Everyone gets used to the flow and starts to understand that South Avenue will be closed, and it gets a little bit easier,” Mann said.
The work is happening at the same time as other road construction in New Canaan.
“We milled and paved White Oak Shade Road simultaneously as South Avenue, which was interesting,” Karl said. “Right now, the amount of projects we have going on is pretty amazing.”
In addition to the White Oak Shade Road paving, there’s a sidewalk installation on Putnam Road, and the intersection of Surrey and Conrad Roads is being improved, Mann said.