GOFFSTOWN — The Department of Public Works has released the schedule for the paving of Mast Road from the Manchester line to the intersection of Danis Park Road and Route 114.
According to Public Works Director Carl Quiram, the schedule is based on ideal weather conditions, and could change. Any update to the schedule can be found on the town’s website, goffstown.com.
Dropping of structures began on Monday and will continue into Tuesday, Quiram said. The process involves lowering catch basins and manhole covers so that the road can be ground down, or milled, to make way for new asphalt.
Milling is expected to take place Wednesday and Thursday.
Shimming and leveling the road will take place Friday, Aug. 3 through Tuesday, Aug. 7. According to Quiram, shimming is a process of laying out a thin layer of pavement to help remove bumps and to establish crown in the road, which allows water to sheet off of it properly.
Structures are set to be raised back up from Wednesday through Monday, Aug. 8 to 13, and the top course of pavement is scheduled to be installed from Tuesday, Aug. 14, to Monday, Aug. 20.
Quiram said Mast Road will remain open and two lanes of traffic will be maintained wherever possible. Separate traffic alerts will be issued if only one lane can be accommodated. After Aug. 20, final striping of the road will need to be scheduled.
Quiram said motorists need to be aware of raised manhole covers, which will be clearly marked.
“With the number of manholes down there,” Quiram said, “people do need to use caution going through.”
Quiram said there are roughly 200 manhole covers and catch basins in the stretch of road.
“It will be a little like an obstacle course, but there’s no way to avoid that,” he said.
All businesses on Mast Road will be open throughout the project, though some have had mixed feelings regarding what’s been perceived as constant construction.
“I’m not happy with it,” said Susan Vigneault of Susan’s Jewelry. “It’s been three years; I’m pretty frustrated.”
Vigneault said customers have told her they’ve had difficulty getting to her store.
“I think the residents will be happy, but it has harmed businesses,” she said.
J. Claude Laroche, owner of Liberty Press, said his business hasn’t been affected by the construction.
“It really doesn’t bother me,” he said. “In another month, it’ll all be over. It’s going to be worth the wait.”
kremillard@newstote.com
