Why does the cobblestoning of Franklin Street require water sprinklers? There’s cloth netting laid over the part that’s already done, and in the overnight hours there are hoses running the length of the project that sprinkle water continuously. —Mike

“The street is sprinkled with water overnight in order to cure the mortar mixture,” said a rep for the city’s Department of Design and Construction, which is overseeing the work. “They do work during the day, putting down sand and fitting the cobblestones in, and then they wet it down with water overnight so it can achieve the maximum strength. The curing process take around four weeks.” Which is why you can’t drive on it even when it looks done.

P.S. In the photo, the street is wet because of rain.

Got a question? Email it to tribecacitizen@gmail.com.

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