NORWAY – Town Manager David Holt told selectmen Thursday that there will be a period in August where construction may make traffic in town worse than it is now.

Currently there are traffic delays on Main Street and Lake Road due to work on roads and water and sewer lines.

Many local drivers are using Beal Street to avoid delays on Main Street.

At the start of August the town will be replacing a bridge near the firehouse on Beal Street, which will require that section to be closed for a month.

“We ordered the bridge and it has to be put in when the water is low,” Holt said. “That would be August and it’ll take about a month.”

He said that Department of Transportation contractors P&K Sand and Gravel of Casco and Pratt & Sons of Mechanic Falls seem to be moving along on the projects.

“I hope they finish on time,” he said.

Holt also told selectmen that the invitations to bid on roadwork, sidewalks and water and sewer line repairs on Beal Street had been sent out again. He said the opening would be July 29.

Selectmen also discussed the fact that on Thursday morning the Norway Opera House was named by Maine Preservation of Portland as one of the seven most endangered historic properties in the state.

Selectman Leslie Flanders said he was working with some local folks to come up with a plan to save the Main Street landmark.

“It’s quite a challenge, as you might suspect,” Flanders said. “It’s quite obvious, as time passes, that the current owner has not shown any indications that he is going to fix it up.”

Flanders also asked Holt if there was a way for the town to purchase the clock, used as the town clock, in the Opera House.

“I have a problem with having to maintain the clock and not own it,” Flanders said.

Holt said the town now has a deeded easement to repair the clock.

“That would be fine if the owner maintained the access, but he doesn’t and it’s very dangerous now,” Flanders said.

In other matters, selectmen tabled the election of board chairman and vice chairman and approval of appointments until July 17 because they wanted a full board. Robert Walker and Russell Newcomb were not present.