Temporary Bridges Update #31
Monday Wrap-Up. Despite the steady rain, Kubricky executed the day’s construction plan on Main Street. In the morning, Kubricky mobilized a crane into the construction zone and then set the precast concrete footings, backwall, and wing walls that form the temporary bridge abutment on the National Bank end of Main Street. They also set the temporary bridge footings on the Post Office end of Main Street (see photo). The new pedestrian bridge that will connect the National Bank to the Post Office was lifted into place on its precast concrete footings. Middlebury’s Champlain Construction transported the modular Mabey bridge into the construction zone.
What’s On Tap Tuesday: Main Street. Kubricky will begin assembling the Mabey bridge on the Post Office end of Main Street while backfilling around the bridge abutment and building up the approach to the temporary bridge on the National Bank end of Main Street.
More Follow-Up from the Weekend. I was pleased to hear from Doug Anderson that none of the construction activity on Main Street interfered with Saturday night’s performance of “Annie.” I also wanted to mention that neither of the seismographs placed in the National Bank and St. Stephen’s to monitor construction impact on those historic buildings registered a blip during the demolition activity on Friday night. One of those seismograph machines has now been moved to the Battell building.
IMPORTANT REMINDER: Both Main Street and Merchants Row closed from Thursday, July 27, through Friday, August 4. Main Street reopens on Saturday, August 5. No through traffic downtown.
South Pleasant Street Sidewalk Reconstruction. When I saw a message board and traffic cones up on South Pleasant Street I picked up the phone and called the town’s Department of Public Works. I learned that reconstruction of the sidewalk on the west side of South Pleasant Street from Cross Street back to the section featuring iron railing will likely start tomorrow and run for a couple of weeks, eliminating several parking places and causing some traffic congestion on the street. Apologies to motorists and downtown shoppers for the added inconvenience. This work is unrelated to the Middlebury Rail & Bridge Project.
Downtown Information Booth Lineup for Tuesday. Staffing the Middlebury Rail & Bridge Project information booth in Cannon Park on Tuesday are Sandy Archibald (10-12), Susan McGarry (12-2), and Mary McGuire (2-4). Stop by and say hello. Hats off to Linda Horn, John Snyder-White, and Laura Asermily who staffed the booth during a rainy Monday. Reminder that hours of operation are 10 AM – 4 PM Monday-Saturday.
Seen Dunkirk Yet? Dunkirk is in town at the Marquis Theater. The NYT gave it a fab review and friends have raved about it. My wife and I plan to see it later in the week once I break out of the construction zone. Janice at Sweet Cecily told me she recently watched the 1958 version starring John Mills, Richard Attenborough, and Bernard Lee and highly recommends that, too.
See you downtown.
Please keep your comments and questions coming. Send me an email at jgish@townofmiddlebury.org and I’ll try to cover it in my next update.