Waltham Roadwork Detours Routes Back To School

WALTHAM, MA — While school buses rolled through Waltham on the first day of school on Tuesday, a portion of School Street remains closed during the day due to ongoing water and sewer work. School Street is closed between Exchange Street and Lexington Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a detour in effect.

There is no parking in the Government Center lot on the School Street side due to the work. Temporary water mains are in place in the stretch while the new water mains are being installed. Waltham Police will be at the site to direct traffic and assist pedestrians.

Reminder - The Lexington St at School St Water Improvements Project is still ongoing & School St will be CLOSED (Exchange St – Lexington St) with a detour in effect from 7am-4pm. There will be no parking in the Gov Center lot on School St side due to work: https://t.co/jCcq4P64os pic.twitter.com/o1nx6a4Q3n
— City Of Waltham (@CityofWaltham) August 27, 2019

The Waltham Public Library sent out a notice on Tuesday letting people know that it would be opening late at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday due to work since the library will have no bathroom water in the morning.

The project is part of the city's capital improvement plan to update the water and sewer infrastructure. The sewer work on this site includes installation of a new pipe from Common Street to Lexington Street and sewer pipe lining work where necessary.

Waltham City Engineer Steve Casazza told Patch in July that the city is about three-quarters the way through the 20-year capital improvement plan: "We're getting there. These are 80-, 90-year-old sewer lines. The pipes have started to leak. Leaky sewers cause problems in the rivers and with the water supply."

Urgent bridge work forcing the closing of the Newton Street bridge between River Street and Main Street is also ongoing with completion targeted for Sept. 19.