City of Portsmouth DPW Set to Start Seasonal Islington Street Corridor Project Work

The City of Portsmouth Department of Public Works is preparing to commence seasonal construction on the Islington Street Corridor Project, Phase 1B. This work will continue sewer-water line separation between Albany Street and Dover Street. Work is expected to take most of the construction season and be completed in October.

In advance of construction on Islington Street, the Department of Public Works has asked Unitil to relocate the gas main on Columbia Street in preparation for the installation of a new drain line during this season’s work. Unitil is prepared to begin construction on Monday, March 22, weather permitting. There will be no on-street parking allowed on the western side of Columbia Street during this work.

On Wednesday, March 24, DPW is hosting an Islington Street Corridor Project Seasonal Preconstruction Meeting, open to the public. The meeting will take place via Zoom starting at 6:30 pm. For the Zoom registration notice, click here:

The City’s contractor for the project, Severino, will return to work on Islington Street for the 2021 construction season on Monday, March 29, weather permitting.

The Islington Street Corridor Project work includes replacement of underground utilities (water sewer drain), roadway reconstruction, curbing and sidewalk installations, and landscaping improvements (ornamental lighting, street trees, benches, etc.) and will be a large step in the revitalization of the West End neighborhood. The goal of this project is to create a "complete street" and will include improvements to the streetscape, traffic signals, utilities, bicycle/pedestrian facilities, transit and vehicular roadway. For more on the project, visit the Islington Street Corridor Project page.