BEDFORD — Motorists will need to pay attention to detours and seek alternate routes beginning Tuesday as Phase III of the Meetinghouse Road reconstruction begins, officials said.

The project is being funded by a $13.2 million road bond passed by voters in 2011.

According to Town Engineer Jeff Foote, Meetinghouse Road will be closed from St. Elizabeth Seton Church to Oak Drive for approximately two weeks while a new closed drainage system is installed and new asphalt laid out.

Access to the Oak Drive area streets will be via the intersection of Meetinghouse, Gault and Patten Roads.

“We always suggest people avoid the construction area and seek alternate routes,” Foote said.

Once that section of Meetinghouse Road is complete, construction crews will move on to the west end of the project at Liberty Hill Road and Route 101, Foote said.

The final phase, the construction of a roundabout at Patten, Gault and Meetinghouse Roads, will begin after that section is completed; Foote said he expects it to take five to six weeks.

“We should be completed by the end of October,” Foote said.

Foote said the project is running on time despite a wet start to the construction season.

“It’s been going on since the middle of May, and we had some rain early on, but the weather has been favorable in June and July,” he said.

Donald Street/Market Basket

A second project, beginning Monday, Aug. 6, will result in the closure of Donald Street to passenger vehicles.

The section of Donald Street between numbers 513 and 528 will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. as a result of road reconstruction in preparation for a new Market Basket supermarket.

This work is expected to be completed by Aug. 17.

Foote said while the construction may be a short-term annoyance to residents, the results will be worth it.

“The benefit will far outweigh the inconvenience in the long run,” he said.

Foote also added that motorists should take extra care when driving in the area.

“People should be aware of their surroundings and use caution,” he said.

Town Council Chairman Bill Dermody said he is looking forward to the addition of a roundabout at a very busy intersection of town.

“I think that’s going to help with the stop sign issues down there,” he said.

Dermody said he hasn’t been approached with any issues from residents as far as the construction is concerned.

“No news is good news,” he said. “I’ve not heard any complaints.”

kremillard@newstote.com