EverSource Energy and its subcontractors failed to install the new natural gas line connection under the Providence & Worcester Railroad after many months due to construction complications encountered and the coordination with the parent company of the Providence & Worcester Railroad.

The Millbury Department of Public Works insisted that Rice Road had to be reopened to the public due to many months of public safety concerns, therefore the deep open holes were filled in and the road openings were paved over by EverSource Energy's subcontractors. That portion of Rice Road between Aldrich Avenue and Providence Street (Route 122A) is scheduled to reopen later this week.

EverSource Energy and its subcontractors will still need to complete the work of installing a new natural gas line and connections to the new natural gas lines installed on a portion of Rice Road, and the complete length of Thomas Hill Road and Captain Peter Simpson Road, probably sometime after winter has concluded. Aldrich Avenue never had a natural gas line, therefore three out of the four houses on Aldrich Avenue do not have natural gas service available to them.

The failure of EverSource Energy and its subcontractors also prevented the efforts of the Millbury Department of Public Works from performing the pavement milling and resurfacing of pavement of Rice Road, Thomas Hill Road, Aldrich Avenue and Captain Peter Simpson Road which was scheduled for the Fall of 2021. Therefore, residents and snow plow operators will be forced to continue to navigate around raised manhole structures and pavement patches. The Millbury Department of Public Works is not to blame for the delays of this scheduled work. All blame falls to the failure of EverSource Energy and its subcontractors and the coordination with the parent company of the Providence & Worcester Railroad.

Update: Rice Road has been reopened as on Friday, December 10, 2021.