Market Square Flooding

Market Square has historically flooded at the low point of the intersection of State Street and Water Street, thereby affecting the local businesses and pedestrian safety.   The City has created a Capital Improvement Project (CIP) to address this concern.  Unfortunately, the water mains in this area are over 100 years old and need replacement.  Also, the santiary sewer main in Merrimac Street and Water Street has been altered over the past 50 years by reducing its cross section to allow drain and gas lines to cross through it, which has reduced it's flow capacity.  As a result, this CIP will result in a major multi-utility replacement project that requires tens of millions of dollars to construct so it may be many years before this project gets underway.   

As an interim solution, a simple secondary drainage system was designed and constructed in 2018.  The handicap ramp in the sidewalk was reconstructed to reverse its pitch to allow the ponded water in the street to flow across the sidewalk and down the alley into the Ferry Wharf parking lot.  A new sidewalk was designed and built to convey the floodwater and at the same time allow pedestrian access.  A simple fix to a problem that has plagued this area for decades.