BUCKLAND — Primary road reconstruction work on Conway Street that started in late March 2022 is now complete, and work is now underway to replace two culverts on South Street.

One culvert is being installed where Gardner Falls Road meets South Street. The other culvert is in the area of 18-21 South St. South Street is expected to be closed for roughly two more weeks during construction, which is being conducted by Baltazar Contractors Inc. of Ludlow.

The detour for the construction area follows Shelburne Falls Road to Wilder Hill Road, which turns into Baptist Corner Road in Ashfield. It then follows Bray Road back to the village area where the construction begins.

The culverts are both pre-cast, three-sided box culverts that are assembled off site. The new design meets state stream crossing standards, as three-side box culverts have a natural bottom.

The sewer lines around the culverts are also being replaced, even though it was not part of the original plan.

“We had hoped to not have to replace all the sewer line in the vicinity of the culverts as the pipe was laid in 1974 and considered to be in good shape,” Town Administrator Heather Butler wrote in an email, “but the elevations of the new culvert and existing brook were in conflict and they had to move the sewer line to accommodate.”

In a notice alerting Buckland residents of the South Street closure, town officials explained the road was closed around Christmastime due to damage from heavy rain. The road was then closed again Jan. 9, and is still closed.

Reach Bella Levavi at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.

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