Main Street Project History

Main Street in Chester is a former State road that the town purchased for $1 from the State. Chester’s responsibility for maintenance begins on the village side of the Main Street Bridge and continues to the intersection of Main Street and Middlesex Avenue.

As the name implies, Main Street has been one of the primary locations for traffic, infrastructure and commerce since Chester’s inception. While under the State’s stewardship, Main Street was continually “overlaid” with paving material. There are no records of a complete reconstruction. As a result, some portions of the pavement exceed the height of the curb reveal creating significant drainage problems. Beneath the pavement exists aging and abandoned infrastructure that includes, but is not limited to, water mains, trolley tracks, sewer lines, water lines, storm water drainage, and possible electric service.

The need to reconstruct the road surface and associated sidewalks and to inspect and replace the utilities that are under the roadway have been recognized for quite some time. In addition, connecting street improvements, resident and business use and fire safety related to any reconstruction must be considered. The Main Street Committee was formed initially in the 1980’s to review the conditions and make recommendations.

In June of 2013, the Main Street Committee completed the Chester Village and Center District Master Plan which was adopted at the July 23, 2013 Town Meeting. This comprehensive plan lays out design recommendations for seven project phases coordinated in conjunction with the replacement of the Main Street bridge begun in 2014. Adoption of the Master Plan set in motion the strategy for qualifying for State grant funds and the coordination of complex construction work within the commercial district. The goal of the Master Plan is to enhance the vitality of the Village while maintaining its unique and special character. Use this link to view the Chester Village Master Plan.

A number of projects ancillary to the current Phase 3 Main Street project have been completed with Main Street Committee support and oversite. As of July 2011 the sewer project and the Middlesex Avenue bridge projects were completed. The Water Street bridge over Great Brook was completed in 2012. In the spring of 2015, the Phase 1 Main Street project was completed, encompassing 1,800 linear feet of Main Street from Laurel Hill Cemetery to Middlesex Avenue. The project, preceded by a new water main installation, addressed drainage, erosion issues, safer parking conditions, improved lighting, new sidewalks and paving. The Laurel Hill Cemetery parking was expanded to 19 spaces, paved and lighted. Phase 2, the replacement of the Main Street Bridge by the state, was completed in 2016.

Main Street Current Project 2019-2020

Phase 3 encompasses Main Street from Route 148 to Maple Street. Improvements to Spring Street and Maple Street as they connect to Main Street are also included in the scope of work. Design plans are attached to this web site, and are on display at the Town Hall. Stakeholders are invited to meet with the Selectmen and Committee to discuss specifics related to their properties. Work is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2020.