📍 GO LOWELL – CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE LOOK-AHEAD

Project Area: Merrimack Street (City Hall area) & Cardinal O’Connell Parkway
Construction Start: March 9, 2026
Estimated Completion: Late October 2026

🟢 MARCH 2026 

March 9–24: Construction Mobilization

Residents will see:

• Construction vehicles and equipment arriving

• Digital message boards installed

• Advance warning signs placed

• Survey crews marking sidewalks and roadway

• Initial sawcutting of pavement (cutting pavement edges before removal)

• Installation of erosion control (storm drain protection)

• Tree protection installed around trees that will remain

💡 Expect temporary parking restrictions and some sidewalk narrowing.

March 20 (Approx.): Tree Removal – Merrimack Street

• Tree removal scheduled for one day

• Work limited to specific trees approved through the hearing process

• Likely short-term lane impacts during active removal

💡Noise from chainsaws and equipment should be expected that day.

March 23–24: Removal of Site Features

Temporary removal of:

• Benches

• Trash cans

• Parking meters

These items will be reinstalled later in the project.

🔵 LATE MARCH – APRIL 2026

PHASE 1: DRAINAGE & UTILITY WORK

March 25 – April 21

This phase focuses on underground infrastructure improvements before sidewalks are rebuilt.

📍 Merrimack Street (Station 100+50 to 103+20)

March 25 – April 7

Work includes:

• Installing new gutter inlets

• Replacing catch basins

• Connecting new drainage pipes

• Removing and replacing older drainage structures

💡🚧Resident Impact:

• Daytime lane shifts

• Steel road plates covering trenches at night

• Possible short-term driveway access interruptions

• Construction noise from excavation

📍 Cardinal O’Connell Parkway @ Market / Dummer

April 8 – April 10

Work includes:

• Installing drainage inlet

• Rebuilding a catch basin

• Modifying existing manholes

🚧Resident Impact:

This will likely create short-term lane narrowing at the intersection.

 📍 Merrimack Street (Station 103+50 to 106+50)

April 13 – April 21

Work includes:

• Installing additional drainage pipe

• Replacing light poles with new foundations

• Electrical conduit installation

💡🚧Resident Impact:

• Temporary sidewalk closures

• Brief power interruptions possible during pole swaps

• Lane restrictions during excavation

🟡 LATE APRIL – EARLY OCTOBER 2026

PHASE 2: SIDEWALK & CURB RECONSTRUCTION

This is the longest and most visible portion of the project.

Work happens in segments so the entire street is not torn up at once.

PHASE 2A

📍Merrimack Street (Right Side)

April 22 – May 12

Work includes:

• Full sidewalk demolition

• New curbs installed

• New ADA ramps (#4 & #6)

• New concrete driveways

• Installation of raised bike lane (May 12)

• Solar-powered pedestrian crossing foundation installed

💡🚧Resident Impact:

• Pedestrian detours

• Businesses remain open but access paths may shift

• Driveways temporarily inaccessible while concrete cures

PHASE 2B

📍Cardinal O’Connell Parkway / Market / Dummer

May 13 – June 2

• Sidewalk replacement

• New curbing

• Multiple ADA ramp installations (#7–#14)

• Driveway reconstruction

Intersection access maintained but narrowed.

PHASE 2C

📍Cardinal O’Connell Parkway (400+00 to 402+30)

June 3 – June 24

• Sidewalk demolition and replacement

• Hydrant adjustment

• New ADA ramps

• Driveway reconstruction

💡🚧Resident Impact:

Expect short-term driveway closures (24–48 hrs during concrete cure).

PHASE 2D

📍Merrimack Street (Right Side continuation)

June 25 – July 16

• Additional sidewalk replacement

• Curb work

• Solar RRFB crossing foundation installed

• ADA ramps (#11, #16, #17, #21, #23)

💡🚧Resident Impact:

• Pedestrian detours

• Businesses remain open but access paths may shift

• Driveways temporarily inaccessible while concrete cures

🎶 JULY 22–31 – NO CONSTRUCTION

Project pauses during Lowell Folk Festival

PHASE 2E

📍Merrimack Street – City Hall Side (100+50 to 103+50)

July 17 – August 21

• Sidewalk demolition

• Curb reconstruction

• Flashing beacon relocated near Coburn Street

• ADA ramps (#1, #2, #5)

• Solar pedestrian crossing foundation

This shifts work to the opposite side of the street.

💡🚧Resident Impact:

• Pedestrian detours

• Businesses remain open but access paths may shift

• Driveways temporarily inaccessible while concrete cures

PHASE 2F

📍Merrimack Street – City Hall Side (103+50 to 105+50)

August 24 – September 14

• Sidewalk replacement

• ADA ramp #20

• Driveway reconstruction

• Solar crossing foundation

💡🚧Resident Impact:

• Pedestrian detours

• Businesses remain open but access paths may shift

• Driveways temporarily inaccessible while concrete cures

PHASE 2G

📍Merrimack Street – City Hall Side (105+50 to 107+00)

September 15 – October 5

• Final sidewalk reconstruction segment

• ADA ramps (#22, #24, #25)

By early October, sidewalk reconstruction is complete.

🔴 OCTOBER 2026 – FINAL FINISHES

Early October (Night Work)

• Roadway milling (Oct 6–7)

• Utility casting adjustments

• Final asphalt paving (Oct 14–20)

• Permanent pavement striping (Oct 21–22)

🌙 Night work reduces daytime traffic disruption.

Mid October – Streetscape Installation

• Landscaping (trees, shrubs, mulch)

• Benches & trash receptacles reinstalled

• Two new bus shelters installed

• Solar pedestrian flashing beacons activated

• New traffic signs installed

Late October

• Punch list corrections

• Final inspections

• Project closeout

Estimated substantial completion: Late October 2026