Cove Street residents learned that when construction begins for a new sewer main in their neighborhood next year, leaving home will be a hassle.

“This is going to be a large disruption for you folks for a long time,” Water and Sewer Commission Chair Dan Chase said.

On Wednesday night, Water and Sewer Commissioners hosted an informational session on the project. Part of the town’s comprehensive wastewater management plan, it’s designed to reduce the amount of pollution entering Buzzards Bay.

The project will bring municipal water and sewer service to the 28 homes on Cove Street. The private way is located on a barrier beach that juts into Nyes Cove.

Project Manager Michael Schrader, of engineering and environmental firm Tighe & Bond, outlined the scope of the work and fielded questions.

“This project is a little different because Cove Street is a little different,” Schrader said. “It’s very narrow, and that’s part of its charm. It’s a little country road.”

That means when construction begins residents will be shuttled from their homes in a gator utility vehicle – basically a golf cart built for rugged terrain.

Schrader explained that during construction hours residents couldn’t drive to and from their homes. Instead, a designated parking area will be available for residents away from the construction zone.

The work, which will bury the sewer main 11 feet below the road’s surface, will make the road impassable. Schrader said the main would be buried at that depth, much deeper than a typical main, due to its proximity to the ocean.

“That will protect it from storms and prevent a break that could lead to sewage leaking out into the water,” he said.

At the end of the workday, the road will be made passable for residents.

However, anyone who wants to leave before construction begins will either have to drive out early in the morning or park a car in the lot outside of the construction zone.

Residents raised questions about lighting and security at the lot. Schrader said he would look into those issues.

Construction is scheduled to start in mid-March and end in October. Bids for the project will be accepted starting in January, Schrader said.

When work is completed residents must pay to connect to the sewer system within one year. They must also install system compatible pumps.

Schrader said the sooner that residents tie into the system, the better.

“It is in your collective interest to do this at the same time,” he said. “When there are more people connected to the sewer system it’s much more effective.”

The town will cover the cost of connecting Cove Street homes to the water main.

The project’s total estimated cost won’t be known until bids start arriving. But Schrader said he expects homeowners could expect to pay $20,000 for costs related to the sewer expansion.

Water and Sewer Department Superintendent Nick Nicholson said homeowners could pay the cost all at once or spread the payments over a period of years.

The start of the project marks the end of a six-year process that studied what areas in town would benefit from municipal sewer service. Nicholson noted that despite the upcoming inconvenience, Cove Street residents are enthusiastic.

“They came to us,” he said. “They were interested in exploring connecting to the town’s sewer system and have been cooperative and supportive throughout the process.”