Construction & Project Updates

July 8, 2025

Hines Lakeview Drive: The bid opening occurred last week, and we're working towards officially awarding the bid and finalizing contracts. At this time we're expecting work to commence in early August, starting with watermain work, followed by street resurfacing later--most likely in September. Details will continue to develop over the next two weeks.

1st and Marshall: Watermain installation and pressure testing was completed last week. Water samples will be pulled tomorrow and tested to ensure quality and safety. Once those tests come back with positive results, new water services will be installed to the property lines--most likely early next week. Storm sewer work should be completed this week. Work to begin reconstructing the street will also most likely commence early next week.

Highway 63: Blacktop patching along the new curb on the east side downtown continues. As planned, milling of the roadway surface started on Monday of this week on the west end of town. They should reach the Four Corners by Wednesday, then turn north. If all goes well, this work could be fully completed by the end of this week, but it very well may carry over to early next week. Later this week, the last of the curb and gutter installation on the east side of the north/south portion of Hwy. 63 will occur, followed by the installation of the final few sidewalk squares on the west side. This should see the sidewalk on the west side fully complete by week's end. Monday of next week will see the installation of the test strip of blacktop, which then need to be tested for quality before full blacktopping operations begin. If all goes well, full blacktopping will start Wednesday of next week, and potentially be done approximately July 25th. This work could spill into the following week, depending upon weather and delays. Sidewalk installation on the east side of the north/south portion of Hwy. 63 is currently planned to begin the first week of August.

Traffic impacts are getting more severe this week. Everyone's patience, understanding, and safety-consciousness continues to be appreciated. The schedule is getting tight, but everyone shares the goal of minimizing impact on the 93rd Annual Rutabaga Festival.

Cumberland remains open for business!

July 1, 2025

Please note that construction work this week will end mid-day Thursday in preparation for the 4th of July holiday weekend.

Hines Lakeview Drive: Bid opening for this project is Wednesday, July 2nd. We'll know a lot more next week about the specific construction plan and schedule.

Foster and Grove: While the contractor is still completing a few final details, construction work on these streets is finally complete! This project will be excluded from future construction updates.

1st and Marshall: Watermain work on the block of 1st Ave. associated with this project started late last week and continues this week, along with stormwater work at the corner of Marshall and Western. This work will continue throughout the week. Watch for a more detailed update after the holiday weekend.

Highway 63: Installation of the remaining new curb and gutter commences today and should be completed tomorrow or possibly Thusday by mid-day. This work will be accompanied by continued utility adjustments and miscellaneous patching. Work on the new streetlights downtown will also be incuded in the mix. We will be installing a few of our old poles as temporary lighting downtown before the end of the week to provide a bit of light downtown until the new poles arrive in August. This lighting will be sparse, but it is better than darkness! Milling of the driving surface of Hwy. 63 will start on Monday, July 7th at the west end of town and will move eastward, most likely reaching the Four Corners mid-week next week. It will then turn northwards. Depending upon progress, it could be completed the end of that week--but will most likely spill over into the following week a bit. Installation of the new blacktop surface will begin the week of July 14th, again starting at the west end of town, moving eastward, and eventually turning north at the Four Corners. Blacktopping will take a couple weeks to complete. Final sidewalk installation, including on the east side of the downtown business district, is currently scheduled to begin the week of July 28th. New light poles are scheduled to arrive during the first half of August, which means that they could potentially be in place by Rutabaga.

Keep hoping for good weather, safe conditions, timely deliveries, and minimal unforseen circumstances! Thanks to everyone for your patience, and remember--Cumberland is open for business.

June 24, 2025

Please keep in mind that construction schedules are always weather dependent--and yes, there is more rain in the forecast...

Hines Lakeview Drive: This project is out for bids and construction is planned for later this year.

Foster and Grove: Final work is nearing completion and should be wrapped up by the end of this week. The pouring of concrete diamonds around manholes is imminent.

1st and Marshall: Project construction kicked off this week. Work will start with blacktop and concrete removals and stormwater work and transition to water main work next week.

Highway 63: Concrete removals and installation of street lighting conduit on the east side of the north/south portion of Hwy. 63 downtown is progressing quickly. This work, along with preparation for curb and gutter installation, is scheduled for completion by the end of this week. Installation of curb and gutter is still being planned for prior to the 4th of July holiday weekend. Some concrete installation on the south side of the east/west portion of Hwy. 63 could be occuring in the next few days. Additionally, underground boring of street lighting conduit on portions of the west side of the downtown district (and at intersections) started today. This work will hopefully be completed by the end of this week as well. Next week contractors will begin adjusting utilities (i.e. manholes, water shut-offs, etc.) in the street surface in preparation for the mill and overlay process. Mill and overlay of the driving surface is still planned to commence immediately following the 4th of July holiday weekend. The process will start on the west side of town and head eastward along. Hwy. 63 before turning northward at the Four Corners.

Thanks to everyone for your patience, and remember--Cumberland is open for business!!

1st & Marshall Construction Update

As promised, here is an update on the pending 1st and Marshall Construction Project behind the Elementary School following our pre-construction meeting with the contractor earlier today:

The work zone will include two blocks--one block of 1st Ave. between Water and Marshall, and one block of Marshall Street between 1st and Western. The project includes significant stormwater upgrades, new street, curb, gutter, sidewalk and water main. Work will commence on Monday June 23rd, and should be substantially complete by mid-August (possibly by August 1st if weather and conditions cooperate). Affected residents on this block of 1st Ave. luckily all have alley access in the back. Due to the aggressive work schedule, they should just plan not have front yard access until August (direct contact with these residents will be made soon).

The week of June 23rd, expect stormwater work beginning at the corner of Marshall and Western, and blacktop removals throughout the zone. The week of June 30th watermain work is planned to begin on 1st Ave.

After this post, future updates on this project will once again be included with our weekly city-wide construction update each Tuesday. Thanks for your patience and cooperation. Cumberland will be looking great soon!!

In case you haven't seen, or don't want to read this week's construction update--please read this! Construction crews will be switching to the east side of the downtown district tomorrow, Wednesday June 18th. Please observe no parking on that side of the street beginning tonight at midnight to facilitate the switchover. Thanks for your assistance

June 17, 2025

Please keep in mind that construction schedules are always weather dependent and are subject to change: This has been very evident the last few weeks!

Foster and Grove: No new updates.

1st and Marshall: The City of Cumberland is holding a pre-construction meeting with the contractor on Wednesday June 18, after which we'll know a great deal more about how this project will unfold and the timeline. We'll do a one-time separate update later this week regarding the 1st and Marshall project.

Highway 63: Removal work on the east/west section of Hwy. 63 (near the former hospital site) has been underway this week. Traffic control on the north/south section will switch to the east side of the highway on Wednesday June 18th, with streetlight removals and sawcutting commencing immediately--most likely on Thursday June 19th. Please observe no parking on the east side beginning Wednesday morning. Removals of sidewalk, curb and gutter in the dowtown area should commence on Monday June 23rd and move northward from the Four Corners. Installation of curb and gutter will follow shortly thereafter.

On the west side of the north/south section of the highway, you may see a small amount of concrete work and temporary filling of some missing sidewalk slabs occurring after the major work switches to the east side. This may result in temporary, sporadic parking closures on both sides of the highway. This will be minimized to the extent possible. Also on the west side, while parking has been mostly reopened, several cones per block will remain placed along the curb in the parking lane. This will be to draw attention to the temporary elevation difference between the asphalt and gutter line.

Mill and overlay of the highway driving surface is still scheduled to commence immediately following the 4th of July holiday weekend. Sidewalk installation on the east side will not occur until the resurfacing work is complete.

Thanks to everyone for your patience, and remember--Cumberland is open for business!!

June 10, 2025

Very little change in this week's update, other than uncooperative weather is pushing a few transition dates around on the Hwy. 63 project.

Please keep in mind that construction schedules are always weather dependent and are constantly subject to change.

Foster and Grove: We're still waiting for the finish work around manholes, which are still low and marked with cones. It should occur in the next week or two.

1st and Marshall: Work on these two blocks behind the Elementary School is scheduled to begin the week of June 23rd. The exact order of operations will be determined in the coming weeks.

Highway 63: Concrete work on the west side of the north/south portion of Hwy. 63 should wrap up this week or very early next week. Mid- to late-week next week they will transition to the east side of the downtown and north/south portion of the corridor-starting with traffic control and saw-cutting, followed by curb, gutter and sidewalk removals. All new curb in this area should be installed prior to the 4th of July holiday weekend (but not sidewalk). Following the 4th of July, work will shift to the mill and overlay of the highway driving surface to allow for street light work on the east side downtown. Sidewalk work on the east side is currently comtemplated to commence around the week of July 21st. Some work on the concrete on the east/west portion on Hwy. 63 is occuring this week. We're still hopeful that all the concrete work downtown can be completed by Rutabaga--but no firm promises from the contractors due to the unknown of Mother Nature!

Thanks to everyone for your patience, and remember--Cumberland is open for business!!

June 3, 2025

Please keep in mind that construction schedules are always weather dependent and are constantly subject to change.

Foster and Grove: We're still waiting for the finish work around manholes, which are still low and marked with cones. It should occur in the next week or two.

1st and Marshall: Work on these two blocks behind the Elementary School is scheduled to begin the week of June 23rd. The exact order of operations will be determined in the coming weeks.

Highway 63: Concrete work on the west side of the north/south portion of Hwy. 63 will wrap up in the next week-and-half (planned for completion by Friday June 13th). The following week they will transition to the east side of the downtown and north/south portion of the corridor-starting with traffic control and saw-cutting, followed by curb, gutter and sidewalk removals. All new curb in this area should be installed prior to the 4th of July holiday weekend (but not sidewalk). Following the 4th of July, work will shift to the mill and overlay of the highway driving surface to allow for street light work on the east side downtown. Sidewalk work on the east side is currently comtemplated to commence around the week of July 21st. Work on the concrete on the east/west portion on Hwy. 63 will be worked in throughout the schedule. There are a lot of moving parts, and an intense amount of contractor coordination happening. There will undoubtedly be modest adjustment to this plan as the work unfolds.

Thanks to everyone for your patience, and remember--Cumberland is open for business!!

May 27, 2025

Please keep in mind that construction schedules are always weather dependent and are constantly subject to change.

Foster and Grove: Work around manholes is scheduled for completion at the end of this week.

Arcade and Hunter: Resurfacing was completed last week.

Highway 63: Sidewalk installation on the west side of Hwy. 63 downtown begins this week, along with any outstanding curb work on the same side. As we reported last week, sidewalk installation is expected to occur at a rate of approximately a block a week--though the goal will be slightly faster than this pace. Contractors are currently estimating 2-3 weeks before they will switch to the east side of downtown for the same work. Sidewalk on the west side will be completed before the switch is made.

Thanks to everyone for your patience, and remember--Cumberland is open for business!!

May 20, 2025

Please keep in mind that construction schedules are always weather dependent and are constantly subject to change.

Foster and Grove: With the exception of some work around manholes, work on these streets is substantially complete.

Arcade and Hunter: Resurfacing will be completed this week.

Highway 63: Concrete crews plan to return Thursday of this week (May 22nd) to begin installation of pedestrian curb ramps at the corners on the west side of the highway downtown. Either late this week or next week just following Memorial Day, sidewalk installation on the west side downtown will begin--with work once again commencing at the Four Corners and moving northward. Sidewalk installation will occur at a rate of approximately one block per week. And finally, the remaining curb installation on the west side of Hwy. 63 will also occur next week--currently planned for May 28th or 29th. It's important to note that certain sections of sidewalk may remain temporarily unpoured to leave space for installation of new lightpole bases. When and where this does occur, gravel and/or rubber matting will be used to make the sidewalks passable.

Thanks to everyone for your patience as this important and valuable work occurs!

May 13, 2025

Hwy 63 (from Water St. to Veteran’s St.) will be closed on Saturday, May 17 to replace water service to the Elementary School.

Foster & Grove: Final resurfacing will be completed Tuesday, May 13.

Hunter & Arcade: Hunter (from Western to Arcade) and Arcade (from Hunter to Lake) are being resurfaced with a mill and overlay treatment. No parking on these blocks the weeks of May 12 and May 19.

Hwy 63: Curb, gutter and sidewalk removals on the west side of the downtown business district heading north continue this week. New curb is being installed in this section now. Sidewalk installation will follow shortly thereafter--planned for the week of May 19th. Mirror image work on the east side of the downtown business district should commence just after Memorial Day.

May 6, 2025

Foster & Grove: No parking May 8th from 2nd to Arcade as they prepare the roadway for final resurfacing the following week. Exact dates of final resurfacing are TBD.

Hunter & Arcade: Hunter (from Western to Arcade) and Arcade (from Hunter to Lake) are being resurfaced with a mill and overlay treatment. No parking on these blocks the weeks of May 12 and May 19.

Hwy 63: Curb, gutter and sidewalk removals on the west side of the downtown business district began this week. This work should wrap this week. New curb installation in this section should begin Monday May 12th, with sidewalk following shortly thereafter--now planned for the week of May 19th. Mirror image work on the east side of the downtown business district should commence just after Memorial Day.

April 30, 2025

Sidewalk removals in the downtown business district will begin next week. Business and property owners will need to remove personal property (i.e. benches, pop machines, etc.) from the sidewalks to accommodate the work. Thanks for your cooperation. Things are about to get real, but we'll get through this together!

April 29, 2025

There will be no parking on Foster and Grove Streets between 2nd and Arcade Avenues on May 8th as contractors will be preparing these streets for the final installation of blacktop the following week (the exact date for blacktopping is TBD). Please plan accordingly. We will do our best to keep you informed on the date for final blacktopping.