ESSEX — Cars are backed up, orange cones are popping up everywhere, and civilian flaggers are directing traffic along Route 133 in Essex as the reconstruction project for the Causeway has finally broken ground.
Excavation for drainage improvements began this week around Spring Street and is expected to continue in that area for the several weeks.
"I think it's going to be somewhat inconvenient but necessary," said Selectmen Chairman Jeff Jones. "We've been trying to get this done for years."
Jones said that, with the economy the way it is, this project might be starting at the exact right time for the town.
"My point of view is that, if it's a slow time anyway, it's the best time to do it," he said. "I'm not a merchant, but to me, it's probably the best time — of the worst time — to do it."
Yesterday, one lane of traffic was open and flaggers were slowly sending about 20 cars through at a time, alternating sides. The same format will be used on work days from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., but both lanes will be open outside of those times, and throughout weekends and holidays.
"They've promised that they're not going to shut down completely, unless they are moving some equipment," Jones said.
After some construction gets underway around Spring Street, Jones said crews planned to move to the other end of the project and begin work on Eastern Avenue.
The reconstruction will extend from Water Street, along Eastern Avenue and through Main Street to the start of John Wise Avenue, covering a stretch of 1.1 miles. Additionally, the project will include the installation of sidewalks, the reconstruction of the seawall along the Causeway, and the installation of pilings to keep the Causeway from shifting and becoming uneven.
The $6.1 million project is scheduled to continue through September 2011.
According to the town's Web site, the Massachusetts Highway Department has completed its baseline engineering marking on the Spring Street side of the Causeway bridge, but marking on the Causeway side of the bridge has been delayed while surveying issues are worked out.
The Route 133 project is one of 71 statewide construction projects this summer that will use civilian flaggers to direct traffic, after Gov. Deval Patrick made the decision to replace police officers with civilians at state road projects in an effort to cut spending.
Massachusetts is the last remaining state that regularly utilizes police details at highway construction sites. The 49 other states primarily use civilian flaggers, paid at significantly lower rates than police details.
For further updates on the Route 133 reconstruction project, the town's Web site, www.essexma.org, has a link on its home page to monitor the project's progress.
Cameron Kittle may be contacted at gt_reporter@gloucestertimes.com.
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