Our View: ‘Extremely pleased’

This first full week of restorative work on the Old Town Mall was not without its rough spots — i.e., concerns, first about the planter/fire lane design, and then about the relative lack of pedestrian “crossovers” — but fortunately none, it seemed, had to do with the actual work performed by the folks from State College, Pa.-based HRI, Inc.

City Manager Dale Iman said, via e-mail Friday, that he’s “extremely pleased with the organization” and “commitment” of the firm hired to undertake the $7.1 million project.

Proof positive, we believe, that the work is going smoothly is that Boscawen Street between Braddock and Cameron reopened to vehicular traffic Friday. As Mr. Iman explained, it was “necessary” to close this portion of the east-west artery in order to install new utility lines and a large manhole. With this work now complete, the intersection was cleared for traffic and, Mr. Iman said, will remain open, save for “occasional closings to complete work such as paver placement” and other related endeavors.

In addition, the city manager said, workers put in the sewer line beneath Town Run “without any glitches.” This signifies as good news, he added, as that location presented myriad potential problems, all deftly avoided.

“The work on the mall revitalization is progressing smoothly,” Mr. Iman concluded. “Our commitment is to do everything within our means to minimize inconvenience to the patrons of the Old Town businesses.”