By Julie Shapiro
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
TRIBECA — The city is starting construction on Franklin Street this week as the next step in the massive five-year Hudson Water Main project.
The work on Franklin between Greenwich and Hudson streets wasn’t originally supposed to happen until several years from now, but the city Department of Design and Construction moved up the work to chop six months off the project.
The city will leave one lane open on Franklin Street while installing a new water main and other infrastructure, which will take about six months. Then the city will repave the street with cobblestones and put in new crosswalks, sidewalks and curbs.
Work hours will be 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekends, as needed. The city will try not to do any noisy work before 8 a.m., according to the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center.
The construction is part of a larger project to connect TriBeCa’s water mains to the city's new Third Water Tunnel, which funnels water into the city, so the older water tunnels can be repaired.
The Franklin Street block includes popular restaurants such as Robert De Niro's Tribeca Grill, Benvenutos Pizza and Thalassa, which may have to contend with water shutoffs. As of Monday, there is also no parking on the block, the LMCCC said.
Businesses and residents who want more information can contact Jamie Corssen, the project’s community liaison, at HudsonStProjectCCL@gmail.com or 212-226-1380.
