Shrewsbury’s School Street to be closed for water main replacement

By Laura Hayes, Senior Community Reporter

SHREWSBURY — School Street will be closed for six weeks in the near future as the town replaces a water main. 

This is the last phase of Shrewsbury’s 2021 water main replacement work. 

School Street is very narrow, and the water main is partially in the northbound lane, Director of Public Works Jeffrey Howland said during a July 27 Board of Selectmen meeting. 

“With an excavator, etc., to try to get through traffic would be very difficult,” Howland said.

School Street runs alongside Dean Park. There are two entrances to the park off the road. 

“We will try to make the southern entrance open as soon as possible,” Howland said.

The selectmen unanimously voted to close the street, effective between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. 

The town is anticipating the School Street work to begin mid-August. Howland said the town will share information on the closure on town social media accounts and the Town of Shrewsbury’s website.

With three side streets off School Street, Howland said the road will be open to local residents from both ends. 

“That’s a long time to have that street closed,” said selectman Maurice DePalo. “I mean, I know it’s a lot of work.” 

DePalo suggested placing fliers on the residents’ doors in case a resident does not check the town’s website. 

Howland anticipated that the town would distribute fliers, which would also have the detour map.

According to the map, traffic will be detoured to Spring Street and Holman Street. 

Prior to their work on School Street, crews have worked on replacing water mains on Main Circle and Saybrook Road, according to the town website.