Detours and road closures along Water Street will be the new norm, at least for a few weeks, as work to replace water mains along the busy thoroughfare started Monday morning. Police blocked off Water from Main to Miller at 7 a.m. to allow construction workers with the Bristol County Water Authority to start the long process of tearing up the road, pulling out old water mains and replacing them with 12” mains.

The work is expected to take a month or more and will be done in stages. Police officers working detail on the site are adjusting signage and are guiding traffic around the affected area, which is closed to through traffic. Warren Town Planner Kate Michaud said detail officers will allow traffic through up to active construction areas. Work is expected to continue Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.