Norwich – Judd Road connecting Rockwell Street to Mohegan Park Road in Mohegan Park will be closed to traffic from Monday afternoon until Wednesday afternoon to allow for construction of a new Norwich Public Utilities water tank.

Judd Road, also known as Park Center Road, closed at 3:30 p.m. Monday and is expected to reopen at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Norwich Rose Garden at the junction of Rockwell Street and Judd Road, however, remains open.

A circuitous detour route has been established along several downtown streets running between Mohegan Park Road and Rockwell Street.

“We recognize that this road closure will be an inconvenience to residents living in the area,” NPU General Manager John Bilda said. “However, the tight footprint of the site requires the crane be positioned in such a way that it blocks the road for part of the construction.”

The new 2.5-million gallon water storage tank will replace the old tank built in 1971. When completed, the tank will be 73 feet in diameter and 86 feet high, as compared to the old tank which was 140 feet in diameter and 52 feet tall. The new tank is part of NPU’s efforts to modernize Norwich’s water infrastructure.

The design of the new tank will result in improved water quality and lower maintenance costs, NPU officials said.