Construction Procedures

Typical Construction Procedures

There are many steps that go into the various street projects in the City of Watertown.  Below are examples of some of the street work you will see around the City.  If you have any questions regarding each individual process, please feel free to either see updated information on the Street Project Updates page or contact our office at (920) 262-4040 or the Street Department at (920) 262-4080.

Watermain, Storm & Sanitary Sewer Installation
Install, repair or replace sanitary sewer, water main and laterals and storm sewer as necessary (sanitary sewer and water mains by Contractor, storm sewer by City). Private utility relocations or replacements as necessary—power poles and gas mains. Driveway access will be denied while contractor is directly in front of property. There may be possible water shut offs during water main work (owners will be notified if water will be shut off). Vehicles are to be off the street during working hours, (typically 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.) when crews are in the area. 

A construction worker in a hard hat and safety vest is walking through a deep trench filled with dirt and a black pipe, with construction equipment visible in the background.
A construction site showing an excavator digging a trench in the ground, with additional machinery and buildings in the background.
A construction site showing a deep trench in the ground, with a piece of heavy machinery working nearby and utility pipes visible in the trench.
A construction site showing workers in safety vests operating machinery to install a large pipe in a trench, with a dump truck parked nearby and houses in the background.

Street Replacement (including Curb & Gutter)
Step 1.  Existing curb, pavement, aprons and gravel base are removed (as applicable) and new gravel is placed to design width and thickness (By City). Vehicles must be off street during working hours. Driveway access denied when crew is directly in front of property.

A yellow excavator is digging a large trench in front of a house, with piles of dirt and gravel scattered around the site.

Step 2.  Sub base is installed.  Vehicles must be off street during working hours. Driveway access denied when crew is directly in front of property.

A view of a quiet, tree-lined street with houses on either side and a gravel surface, under a clear blue sky.

Step 3. New curb and gutter, sidewalk and driveway aprons are installed. Vehicles must be off street during working hours. Driveway access will also be denied when crew is directly in front of property. Also note that the new concrete needs a minimum of 7 days cure time to gain enough strength to be driven on. Therefore, driveway access will be denied for a prolonged period—parking is allowed on the street (during working hours vehicles must not be in the way of Contractor/City equipment and workers) until City reestablishes drive access.  Rough backfill is completed by the Contractor.

A large yellow road construction machine is working on a gravel surface, with workers nearby and a concrete truck in the background under a clear blue sky.
A view of a sidewalk under construction, featuring freshly poured concrete sections alongside unfinished areas with gravel and construction barriers.
A view of a concrete sidewalk and driveway leading to an abandoned building, with overgrown grass and trees in the surrounding area.

Step 4.   Add gravel, as necessary, grade for drainage. (By City) Restore access to drives as soon as possible. Limit speed to reduce dust. Vehicles off street during working hours.

Step 5.  Adjust valves and manholes and fine grade the gravel for design pavement thickness and install base layer of asphalt pavement (by City and Contractor). Vehicles must be off street during working hours. Next-day access after pavement has cooled.

Step 6.  Install topsoil and sod on reconstructed streets. Install topsoil and seed and mulch on streets with limited curb replacement. (By Contractor).

A view of a street undergoing landscaping work, featuring freshly turned soil on the left side, bordered by trees and bushes, with a construction cone on the right side of the road.
Workers are installing sod along a curbside, with a tree and residential buildings in the background.

**Note that the sod will be watered as needed until established. Vehicles must be off street during working hours and also to facilitate watering. A notice will be placed on the door when watering is complete. Then owner or resident is then responsible for sod care. 

A person operates a hose to clean a sidewalk and grass area next to a street, with a large truck parked nearby.

Step 7.  Surface layer of asphalt pavement is installed by Contractor. Vehicles must be off street during paving and overnight. Next-day access after pavement has sufficiently cooled to avoid ruts.

Pavement Placement:                          Compaction Procedure:

A construction scene showing a dump truck unloading material next to a road paving machine, with workers overseeing the process.
Two pieces of heavy machinery are working on a road, with one roller compacting asphalt and another smaller machine following behind, set against a backdrop of buildings and power lines.

Finished pavement:

A quiet, tree-lined residential street with freshly paved asphalt and utility poles, under a clear blue sky.

Traffic signs are reinstalled pavement markings are applied as necessary. Stop signs will always be present.