This update today from Mike Sullivan –

We just finished meeting with the railroad representatives (Mass DOT, MBTA and Mass Coastal Railroad). Route 109 will close to traffic at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, November 13 and will remain closed until Tuesday, November 17. During that time the badly deteriorated railroad grade crossing will be replaced with a new concrete grade crossing. It’s possible, depending on how the works progresses, that 109 would be open Monday afternoon, but to be on the safe side, we are assuming it will be closed all day Monday. Friday, commuter traffic will be able to use 109 until 9:00 a.m., after which detours will be in place to reroute traffic. Every effort will be made to provide access to local businesses on 109 through the weekend but 109 at the railroad crossing will be closed, as replacement of the grade crossing will make it impassible. To avoid getting caught up in traffic, it would be wise to avoid the center of Town this weekend, particularly, during commuter traffic periods. School buses using that section of 109 will be rerouted on Friday afternoon and Monday. Every effort is being made to alert residents, businesses, public and private schools, churches, surrounding towns and commuters so that they will be prepared for the closure. The DPW, Police and Fire Departments will be working to reroute traffic and minimize disruptions, but 109 is a heavily travelled commuter route and carries a high volume of traffic, even during off hours, so, if at all possible, the area should be avoided from Friday morning until Tuesday.  Michael Sullivan, Town Administrator

From Mike Sullivan this afternoon –

The MBTA and Mass Coastal Railroad have made the decision to go ahead this weekend to rebuild the railroad grade crossing on Route 109. It will require shutting down Route 109 from about 10:00 a.m. Friday afternoon until sometime Monday afternoon. We met this afternoon, including School Dept. administrators, to plan for this road closure, rerouting school buses, and notifying adjacent Towns and local businesses. We will also be meeting at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow with railroad construction personnel on site to review plans for handling traffic, coordinating construction work, etc. We will be placing signs warning residents and commuters of the road closure and urging them to find other commuting or travel routes. Mass D.O.T. will be sending a representative around to local businesses to discuss the schedule and associated implications. We will advise further as additional information becomes available. Michael Sullivan, Town Administrator.