Water Company’s Summer-Long Closure of South Avenue Starts Monday

More

The dreaded closure of South Avenue starts Monday, town officials say.

On June 23, the water company will start installing a 36-inch main along South Avenue between Harrison Avenue and Farm Road, closing a major north-south artery for more than two months, according to a press release issued Wednesday by the town.

“Motorists are asked to find alternate routes for the summer during construction,” it said.

A project that started three years ago, the installation of the water transmission pipe has already seen road closures and detours in eastern New Canaan, where the main comes in from Wilton and ultimately will feed toward Stamford and Greenwich. (New Canaan itself doesn’t stand to benefit from the work, officials have said, though the town will use the closure to update some pedestrian ramps along South Avenue/state Route 124 to code.)

The construction will take place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and is expected to wrap up prior to Aug. 26, the first day of school, the press release said. Except for those who live within the construction zone, motorists “must follow traffic control and posted detour routes,” it said. Cars will be detoured off of South Avenue at Old Stamford Road and toward Main Street.

“Project updates including construction status, work schedule, changes in traffic patterns and detours will be posted weekly on Aquarion’s website,” the release said.

Questions should be directed to New Canaan Director of Public Works Tiger Mann at 203-594-3054 or via email at Tiger.Mann@newcanaanct.gov

8 thoughts on “Water Company’s Summer-Long Closure of South Avenue Starts Monday

  1. We were there yesterday and the Detour signs were useful. Today at 1pm not so much. With my daughter we followed the Detour/arrow sign and then also immediately there was another Detour sign with an arrow to the left and lo and behold – that took us to where we started. Round and round and again – different ways and still then ending up on the other closed street down a few blocks. Hot today and I and my daughter are both disabled so highly stressful. I drive back a 3rd time to the cop on duty who was very relaxed on his iPhone ‘I have to go now Lisa’ and he informed me that there are no Detour signs ??? and I should have apparently have surmised somehow to turn right on Main. He let a car go thru while speaking with us after all of this but not us and yes I was yelling from frustration and disability which one should never to anyone let alone a cop. He asked for my address – I know where I live – 2 minutes away. Finally he told us to use Main Street which is a right. Please please set this up better. Senior here. Horrible – like a nightmare around and around and other cars also did U-turns after following the Detour sign to turn left.

  2. Me again. We are in Wilton all the time and the work on Route 106 which is mentioned in this article is the opposite of what we experienced today and it’s a big production in Wilton — clear and accurate Detour signs – alert traffic personnel who are right there watching, directing and answering any questions.. And this goes on for miles – not a couple of blocks. Several traffic monitors at each Detour sign. My daughter just told me – drive to the Merritt and take that home from now on. Exit 38. For a 5 minutes drive from the Y. . .

  3. The digging up of South Avenue is a necessary evil,
    Let’s just hope the town of new Canaan holds the water company’s feet to the fire in getting the road
    milled and paved right after completion , especially after the horrendous job they put the people through on 106 and Harrison Ave. it was well over one year before they came back to mill and pave. Fingers crossed.

    • I believe this is a two summer long project so the closure will happen next summer as well. Highly unlikely they will do more than patch the road until full completion. I feel for all the homeowners along South Avenue and for the businesses in town.

  4. I hope to God the town of New Canaan is getting paid for this mess. The water company is inconviencing us so they can sell water to Stamford and Greenwich. I don’t give a hoot about Stamford or Greenwich, so please tell me why that’s our problem. Show me the money.

  5. The whole Rt. 106 is lumpier than ever… Even after repave job in eastern New Canaan and Wilton. Work is still going on by Sivermine part of RT. 106 how many years latter? – I highly doubt this will be finished on time or finished right at this point before school starts given their track record. Downtown New Canaan will suffer major Business loss I bet because of this.

  6. So why is Aquarian doing the project on south ave if it’s not benefiting us why can’t they do it on a road that connects Stamford and Greenwich seems like a waste of money if it’s not benefiting us hope they send the town a check for the inconvenience while there at it why don’t they pay the bills the power and water for the next year for the town

  7. It seems that not too long ago South Avenue was restored and paved back to what it needed to be, and now it’s getting torn up again. So, why is there not better coordination & planning for these “projects” ahead of time to prevent this cycle?

    And while we’re all talking abut the condition of this roadway, when in the world are our Elm and Pine Streets going to be resurfaced and paved? Both are in terrible shape. Can we get an update please?

Leave a Reply to Theresa Clarke Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *