A series of road construction projects will begin in March disrupting traffic in Marion village, according to engineers from Camp, Dresser, McKee and Smith.

“This is a major construction project. There are a lot of big pipes that are going into the ground. The roads are going to be torn up. So this is a large undertaking,” said Michael Guidice, an engineer. “You are going to be impacted one way or the other.”

Guidice, along with project manager Shawn Syde, held an informational meeting for residents on Wednesday night in the Marion Music Hall.

The $5.2 million project will bring utility, drainage and road improvements to Ryder Lane, Front Street and South Street.

Construction was set to begin last fall, but the state agency MassWorks Infrastructure failed to award a $1 million grant to the town in time. The town received the grant in the fall. The project will also be paid for with money from the state's annual highway allowance to cities and towns and funds approved at last year's town meeting.

Soon residents can expect to see heavy equipment and construction crews in the village. The repairs are the first phase of a proposed $18.4 million, 10-year plan that would bring more infrastructure improvements to Marion.

To accommodate summer traffic, Guidice said crews would try to finish construction on South Street before Memorial Day. Work on South Street and Front Street will be suspended in the summer, and resume after Labor Day.

Residents can expect dust, noise and possible water disruptions during the work.

“I just like to prepare people for the worst and hopefully, when it’s over, people say it wasn’t as bad as I made it sound,” Guidice said.

Though crews will stop work on South Street and Front Street, Ryder Lane will be under construction through the summer. Drain work at Old Landing may require crews to work a second shift – 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. – to avoid disrupting activity at the boat launch. Guidice said it was still too soon to know for sure.

Communication between town officials, residents and the contractor will be a priority, said Syde.

Notifications will be posted on the CDM Smith website, the town’s website and through the mail.

CDM Smith resident engineer Tim Ives is the point person between the town and the contractor. Syde encouraged residents with questions during the construction process to call Ives at 508-284-5019.

Generally, construction crews will work from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. In addition to roads and utilities, improvements will be made to sidewalks to make them compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. New streetlights will be installed, too.

The project’s end date is scheduled for Memorial Day 2015.