Contractors are expected to start soon on a $4 million-plus project to extend water mains in a loop around and along the Route 6 corridor, and will allow both residents and the town to tie the Macomber School into the public water supply system.

The project is is separate from the $30 million Greater Route 6 infrastructure (water and sewer) project that was rejected by voters at the polls this Spring, and again at Town Meeting.

Instead, funds for the work come from a $4 million federal EPA grant administered through the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and local ARPA funds. The EPA grant was secured to address PFAS and manganese contaminants in some of the wells; PFAs are a group of synthetic chemicals that have been in wide use in consumer products since the 1950s.

While the work was expected to start this week, Westport Town Administrator James Hartnett said Monday that scheduling issues have delayed the work until early December; construction is expected to take about six weeks to complete.

The mains will be extend along Route 6, starting at Greenwood Avenue and extending through Osborn Street, and north on Gifford Road to Route 6.

Once the work is done, residents who live along the route path will have the option of tying into the public water system. As part of the work, contractors will extend service hookups to each property line, and each will be equipped with a shut-off valve. This type of installation gives property owners the option of connecting to the system, though a connection is not mandatory.
Instead, owners interested in tying into the system will have to hire their own contractor to do the necessary work.

As for disruptions, town officials said efforts will be made to keep impacts on local traffic, and driveways, to a minimum. Though there are no specifics as of yet, detours may be necessary during certain phases of the work.

Finally, next year, when the work is complete, the affected areas will be re-paved.