The town of North Attleborough is bracing for a bit of chaos as the wrecking ball swings towards the decrepit Webster Mill, with road closures and detours starting today at 9 a.m. As the town commences the partial demolition of the old factory building, officials advised the public to steer clear of the site as it is teeming with both structural and environmental hazards, this according to NBC Boston.
Broadway, which was initially shut down last week from Richards Avenue to Bank Street, will now see its closures extend up to Roosevelt Avenue, as the demolition takes place between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and further on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., residents looking to navigate the area will meet detours along Eddy Street to either shoot downtown or hop onto Roosevelt Avenue to continue Broadway travel for locals will be allowed but only between Roosevelt Avenue and Bank Street's corner, as mentioned in The Sun Chronicle.
Determined to shake off the public safety hazard that the old mill has become, especially after recent storms have compromised the structure even further, the town's demolition actions came on the heels of the owner's inaction, as they were given a 24-hour ultimatum to address the building's precarious state but failed to respond, "Since learning of the imminent threat that the Webster Mill poses to the public safety, the Town has taken swift action in collaboration with our local and state partners to begin the partial demolition of the building," stated Town Manager Michael Borg in reports by both media outlets.
Adding to an already complex situation, the town battles not just the risk of the building's collapse but also the environmental threats within, as pest control and asbestos are significant concerns, during the demolition, strict monitoring is to ensure pests don't scamper to other parts of North Attleborough and that asbestos is well-contained with water sprays and special covers on debris residents are advised to maintain a distance of at least 100 feet from the demolition zone's barriers, as extensively detailed by The Sun Chronicle.
Once the dust settles and debris is cleared, North Attleborough aims to fence off the site and engage the owners to repair the rest of the structure with the hope of one day turning the property back into a safe, functional space for the community, the town officials are working closely with the local health department, a licensed site professional, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and the state building inspector to ensure the operation is smooth and safety standards are adhered to throughout the process.
