Project plans: Bid IFB-01B-MRGW26-Construction Plans
Contractor requirements: Special Provisions
Letter from the Town Administrator: Town South Main Update 2026-08-07
Town Update Page: Mill River Greenway/South Main Street Project
As of August 11, the currently covered signs along the street announce "Construction Ahead / Fines Doubled" and "End Construction / End Doubled Fines."
Communications
From: Anne McCabe
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2026 2:02 PM
To: Tom Bernard <townadmin@burgy.org>
Subject: Question re south main st construction
Will we be able to access our driveways during construction? I’m at 19 south main st. I certainly hope so. Pls advise thanks
Anne McCabe
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From: Tom Bernard <townadmin@burgy.org>
Date: Thu, Aug 13, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Subject: RE: Question re south main st construction
To: Anne McCabe
Hi, Anne, thanks for reaching out and your question is perfectly timed as I was speaking with the contractor this afternoon. You will have driveway access during construction. There will be times when the work on the street is going on around your address. In those cases the contractors will accommodate your needs and needs of residents on the street to get in and out. If there are times when they may need to temporarily impede driveway access, they will check with people to be sure they don’t need to get out during the time they are working right in front of you. Hope this helps.
Tom
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Tom Bernard
Town Administrator
From page 6 of the project plans, specifications for full-depth roadway reconstruction:
SURFACE COURSE: 1.5" SUPERPAVE SURFACE COURSE (SSC-12.5) OVER
INTERMEDIATE COURSE: 2.5" SUPERPAVE INTERMEDIATE COURSE (SIC-19.0) OVER
SUB-BASE COURSE: 12" GRAVEL BORROW TYPE b
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From: Madelyn Breen
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2026 3:07 PM
To: Tom Bernard <townadmin@burgy.org>
Subject: Access driveway
Hello,
I am very concerned about access to my driveway and to my backyard property. My landscape company and other workers need this access.There is no other way for them to get into my backyard with their equipment.
In addition how can we get an ordinance that would ban e bikes from this new path. I understand other communities have done this and within increase safety concerns regarding E bikes. This may be a good way to go. In addition governor Healey is trying to get legislation passed regarding some of these motorized vehicles and an E bike is a motorized vehicle.
No mistake about it. This is creating havoc and people‘s lives when there would be a much simpler way to do it accomplishing the same thing.
Madelyn Breen 17 South Main St.
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From: Tom Bernard <townadmin@burgy.org>
Date: Thu, Aug 13, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Subject: RE: Access driveway
To: Madelyn Breen
Hi, Madelyn - this question came up in my most recent meeting with the contractor.
You - and your landscaper - will have driveway access during construction. There may be times when the work on the street is going on around your address. In those cases, the contractors will accommodate your needs and the needs of residents on the street generally to get in and out. If there are times when they need to temporarily impede driveway access, they will check with people to be sure you don’t need to get out during the time they are working right in front of you.
The last I knew, and a quick scan confirms this, the Ride Safe Act is currently still in committee in the Senate; that would place restrictions on some classes of ebike, but not all of them. If I understand the existing law correctly, then you're right about the possibility of local regulation prohibiting the higher speed bikes from bike paths. It could be passed at after a public hearing, although I need to do some more homework to confirm whether it would take a bylaw adopted at town meeting (which I think would be the case) or some other mechanism.
Tom
The Ride Safe Act: Bill S.3077 An Act to enhance the safe use of micromobility devices
From an article about the Act (here):
Lower-speed e-bikes, not exceeding 20 miles per hour, would continue to follow standard bike lane rules, with an added helmet requirement for riders under age 16.
For mid-speed devices (21-30 mph), riders would still be permitted on bike lanes and paths, but under heightened safety rules. The bill calls for a minimum age of 16 and a helmet requirement for all operators and passengers, regardless of age.
Devices that reach speeds of 30 or more miles per hour would be subject to stricter requirements, including mandatory registration and insurance and a minimum age of 16. To minimize conflicts on the street and protect vulnerable road users, the faster devices would not be permitted in bike lanes or on pedestrian paths.
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From: Jim Weigang
Date: Thu, Aug 13, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Subject: Traffic routing plan
To: Tom Bernard <townadmin@burgy.org>
From the Special Provisions for the South Main project:
Before starting any work under this Contract, the Contractor shall prepare, and submit to the Town for approval, a plan that indicates the traffic routing proposed by the Contractor during the various stages and time periods of the work and the temporary barricades, signs, drums and other traffic control devices to be employed during each stage and time period of the work to maintain traffic and access to abutting properties.
Has this traffic routing plan been submitted to the town yet? Has it been approved? By whom?Could we get a copy of the plan and approval? Thanks...
Jim
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From: Tom Bernard <townadmin@burgy.org>
Date: Tue, Aug 18, 2026 at 1:57 PM
Subject: RE: Traffic routing plan
To: Jim Weigang
Hi, Jim, apologies for the delay – I wanted to take time to be sure that I gave you an accurate response:
The traffic management plans were included in the contract plans, sheet 29-31, and the contractor has decided to follow what was defined by VHB. If they decide to deviate from what is shown on the plans, they will need approval from the town. Please note that while the special provisions state ".....accessing abutting properties." the contractor has been advised they cannot access any property without advising the town first so proper coordination/ notification can occur with the abutter. The contractor will also be advising the town in advance about the type of work to be scheduled and when.
TWB
The contract plans can be seen here. Pages 29-31 give details for temporary pedestrian curb ramps and detours, barrel placement for vehicle lane shifts and closures, and sign placements, but no elucidation of time periods or construction stages. Page 28 (the text of which can be seen here) provides more information but other than a few notes about work opposite Fort Hill, still nothing about time periods or construction stages of the full project. Presumably this is information the contractor will advise the town in advance about.
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From: Anne McCabe
Date: Tue, Aug 25, 2026 at 9:14 AM
Subject: Update on South Main St construction?
To: <townadmin@burgy.org>
Hi Tom,
So here it is nearing end of August and there's been no updates regarding the upcoming work. I'm writing to confirm that the meridian strip will be destroyed, correct? How close to our front gardens/fencing will the work come? Also, what about debris/dirt/etc. that will be kicked up during construction and affect our homes' front porches and walls? Please advise, thank you.
Anne McCabe
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On Tue, Aug 25, 2026 at 10:30 AM Tom Bernard <townadmin@burgy.org> wrote:
Good morning, Ann –
Up to this point the work has been confined to site preparation, signage and erosion control closer to the existing bike trail. The project team meets weekly and one of the topics we discuss is what work is coming up and what the impact will be so that we can communicate appropriately and with as much lead time as possible. You’re correct that it has been a while since the initial posting, and I have it on my list to discuss our next communication when the project team meets later this week.
When you ask about the meridian strip, I think you’re referring to the grassy space between the sidewalk and the curb, yes? If that is accurate, then yes that will be replaced with the shared use path. To that point, you can expect the work to come from the street to where the current sidewalk is installed.
Finally, while I understand that the contractors will do everything they can to minimize debris, this is a road construction project so there is no way to promise there will be no dust and dirt. You may need to give your porch some extra sweeps while construction is underway, and again the standard is minimal, not zero impact.
TWB
According to the plans, a new 5-foot wide grass buffer will be constructed between the 8-foot path and the granite curb along the street.