Uxbridge approves short-term road closures and downtown work to allow bridge paving and a fire-suppression tie-in

The Uxbridge Select Board on Aug. 11 approved a set of temporary road closures and detours to allow finishing work on three bridge approaches and to permit a private contractor to connect a fire-suppression line to a building on South Main Street.

Lieutenant Burke (public-safety/traffic coordinator) told the board that MassDOT crews will mill approaches to three bridges and complete paving over several nights; the night work is intended to minimize daytime traffic impacts. For the downtown work at 2 South Main Street — a property owner’s contractor needs to trench to connect the building to the town water main for a fire-suppression system — staff recommended restricting selected parking spaces and two alleyways for short periods while maintaining two travel lanes at all times. The contractor offered to try to perform some work overnight to limit daytime disruption, though that increases cost.

Burke said the town will require conditions on work in recently paved sections, including controlled-density backfill and infrared sealing of seams after patching. Board members raised concerns about tractor-trailer traffic and signage; staff said local drivers typically avoid navigation apps that route through the downtown and described plans for police details, cones, and signage to manage detours.

Separately, MassDOT notified the town that work on three bridges (Coppola, Mill and a Pond Street structure) is in final stages and that crews will pave approaches on consecutive nights to conclude the project within the town. The Select Board voted to approve the closures and detours as presented, with the understanding that DPW and public-safety staff will enforce permit conditions and require appropriate patching and inspection.

The board also discussed a request to trench West Hartford Avenue (Corey Hill) to provide sewer connections for newer homes. Members noted the town’s usual five-year moratorium on cutting newly paved roads and asked staff to confirm whether the connection is an emergency or required for occupancy; staff agreed to follow up with the applicant before granting any carve-out from the moratorium.

What happens next: DPW and police will finalize permit conditions (traffic control, required paving/infrared repairs, inspection) and the contractor must obtain required permits; the town will follow up with the South Main applicant to confirm Title 5/occupancy and the exact timeframe before authorizing any work that would cut a recently paved road.