The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is about to start rebuilding the small “sluiceway” dam in Hemlock Gorge by the corner of Ellis St and the Rt 9 exit. A crew there this afternoon is scoping things out. They plan to block off that whole area with a fence in the coming days for the duration of construction
The dam in question is in poor shape and has been crumbling and leaking for a while now.
The plan is to drop a portable dam a short distance upstream and divert most of the water over the larger horseshoe dam by the Rt 9 exit during the construction. The whole project won’t be completed until mid or end of July.
Are they blocking off local traffic, or just access this site?
@Hoss – Just the site I believe
when will we see some sidewalks along Rt. 9 there? The spot is ideal for walking, except that there’s no good way to get along the off-ramp, no safe or marked crosswalks, nothing for pedestrians.
ad — Are you referring to the strip that is between Ellis St and the stone building? There is plenty of room to walk here — I do it almost every day, as do many others. (Yesterday a high school kid passed me on this strip playing a guitar!)
You are correct, there is no paved sidewalk, but most of the walking in the gorge is by trails anyway. The opposite side of Rt 9 has a sidewalk and crosswalks which I think goes on uninterrupted. (I can confirm that you can walk from Elliot Station into Wellesley over Rt 128 using the sidewalk/crosswalks on that side)
If the strip between Ellis and the stone building is your concern — you should ask/write Ald Yates about it.
The “Renaissance” of Upper Falls remains apace.
Hmm, I guess they were right to spread of the news about the construction before anything happens or anyone else complains about it. Building a portable dam is a great idea. Is it already done? When in July did they actually finish the whole project?