Roadwork, Paving to Continue; Detours Expected

One lane will be closed in both directions on Route 128 in both directions near exit 23 for the rest of the week, which will cause backups and slow-going much like the congestion that was seen on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, state Transportation Department spokeswoman Sara Lavoie said a contractor had the right travel lane and breakdown lane closed on the northbound side to install pavement millings beneath the guardrail. On the southbound side, the contractor had the high speed (left) lane closed to remove debris from the area where the temporary barrier had been located. That will get the area ready for final paving, she said.

The lane closures on both sides of the highway will continue through Friday, Lavoie said. The lane closures will happen from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

On Wednesday, the closures caused significant backups and delays on both sides of the road. A Google traffic map showing the red and yellow areas of the highway from Wednesday afternoon are shown in a photo attached to this story.

Another major paving job wrapped up on Wednesday, where Poplar and Locust streets paving was completed. The roads, which are also Route 62 and Route 35, now have a new coat of pavement, which means that several major town paving job have been completed. Also on the list of roads that have been repaved in recent weeks includes Dyer, East Coast Road, Moulton, Otis and Pickering streets.

On Wednesday, paving was completed on Locust Street (Route 35) from Oak Street to just past the traffic lights at Poplar Street. About 200 feet of Chestnut Street near Poplar Street was repaved. On Poplar Street (Route 62), paving was completed from the Locust Street to Grove Street.

Town paving will then resume next Wednesday, Oct. 3, when Ferncroft Road will be repaved, according to Bob Lee, Danvers DPW's director of operations. The work will be closely coordinated with North Shore Community College, he said.

During the second week of October, the town of Danvers will finish its 2012 street paving on several streets on Hospital Hill, including Burley Avenue, East, Fellows, Richard, Weston, Winthrop  streets and Winthrop Street Extension. An exact date for paving on those streets has not yet been set, but when the paving does occur Lee said those roads will likely be closed - versus the detours in recent days on Locust and Poplar streets - since the streets on Hospital Hill are smaller and less travelled. After street paving is done, sidewalk paving will continue into November.