AMHERST — Full-scale construction of a roundabout to replace a downtown intersection is finally underway, more than two months after its original start date.

Beginning Wednesday, the intersection of Triangle and East Pleasant streets will be closed around the clock as crews from Warner Brothers of Sunderland begin digging up the existing road and removing the pavement and curbs in anticipation of completing the project before the fall semester begins at the University of Massachusetts.

Town Manager Paul Bockelman said the schedule for construction of the roundabout will depend on weather. Even though the original plan called for beginning the project just after the early May commencement at UMass, and completing it within four months, town officials remain confident the roundabout can be finished on time.

“They’re still within range of being done by the end of August, which is what we want them to do,” Bockelman said.

The delay was caused by Comcast and Verizon taking down overhead wires and reinstalling these in chambers below the road.

The roundabout, originally pegged at around $1.1 million, is being paid for in part through a $1.5 million MassWorks grant, provided to bury the utility lines, and state Chapter 90 transportation money.

The detour will cause East Pleasant to be closed between Chestnut and Pray streets, and Triangle to be closed between North Pleasant and Cottage streets.

Vehicles traveling west on North Pleasant will have to turn onto Old North Pleasant and past the intersection with Hallock Street before getting onto East Pleasant. Those heading east on Triangle will be detoured onto Pray Street before entering East Pleasant.

Department of Public Works Superintendent Guilford Mooring said the closure will be more limited in scale beginning July 26, but is necessary.

“For the next six weeks we expect the intersection to be closed,” Mooring said.

The work comes even as Verizon continues to remove its overhead wires. Warner Brothers and subcontractor Caracas Construction of Ludlow are able to work around this.

All of the nearby businesses will remain accessible, Mooring said, including Bertucci’s, The Pub, Primo Too and The Sub restaurants, The Spoke bar and Amherst Copy & Designworks and the Amherst Center Store.

In addition, despite the construction at the northern tip of Kendrick Park, the weekly music series on Thursday nights, put on by the Amherst Business Improvement District, will go on as scheduled.

This week, children’s musician Mister G will headline with In the Nick of Time serving as the opening act. Performances run from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

In case of rain, the concerts will be moved to the Pacific Lodge on Main Street.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.

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