MANCHESTER- The intersection in the middle of town has been reopened to two-way traffic but more work remains. Construction at the junction of Main and Depot streets will continue for the next month, at which point the roundabout will start to take shape.

However the roundabout will not be able to function until sometime in November, at the earliest, according to town officials.

"The project will be juggling a few things simultaneously," said Tricia Hayes, junction improvements public information officer. "Work on the bridge will continue for the next month, rebuilding the bridge, pouring footers, putting in the first of the pre-cast concrete in that area. The roundabout will start taking shape at this point."

"What we are doing basically is building another bridge, essentially for functional purposes," added Lee Krohn, zoning administrator and planning commissioner. "Tying them together which then creates the physical roadway for the roundabout."

During the same time sidewalks along the First Baptist Church and near Coach and Five Seasons will be completed. The sidewalk outside of the church had to be reconstructed to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. The ground will be lowered, taking away the three steps that used to bring pedestrians to the road. Instead, with the ground being lowered, the sidewalk will be at road level.

"We have the hope that if things remain on track and the contractor can get all the heavy lifting done by

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the end of this calendar year we will have taken a project that was originally three construction seasons long, condensed it to two by virtue of night work, then maybe condensed it to one and change by this accelerated approach," said Krohn.

In the meantime, construction on the so-called "button" roundabout, at the corner of Bonnet and Main streets, will likely begin sometime in the next month. The town has had some delays getting the curbing from the subcontractor, Tatro Concrete Impressions, based out of Bennington, that is needed to start construction of the roundabout.

"I think there is just a lot of demand for that material," Krohn said when asked what is causing the delay.

Tatro's Concrete Impressions will be finishing up the sidewalk on the roundabout project then have to build the splitter islands, then build the crosswalks. That will all be done during this month, said Hayes.

Looking ahead to the upcoming fall foliage season, when traffic through the intersection swells with visitors, Hayes said there were no plans to add additional traffic control personnel to help direct traffic, which has now be reduced down to one lane.

"By the end of the construction season three quarters of the work will be completed. Hopefully sometime around mid-November depending on the weather," said Hayes.

Their will be walking tours available to the public, which started Wednesday, Sept. 19th and will be held every Wednesday as long as their is a demand for it and weather permitting. The tours will last roughly 20 minutes and will meet in front of Thai Basil Restaurant. There is no limit to the number of people per tour. Everyone is welcome. For more information on the tours contact Tricia Hayes at 362-0207.