An environmental crew has finished cleaning the contaminated soil found during the second phase of the Main Street "Streetscape" beautification project after workers unearthed an old gas tank earlier this summer.

Workers began the last of the cleanup of the area between Cumberland Farms and Hess on Thursday, August 29. Paving will soon follow.

Officials estimated that the gas tank had been in the ground at least since the 1980s. The discovery came as a surprise to construction workers.

The Community and Economic Development Authority, which is completing the project, had money built into the budget for such surprises. Director Salvador Pina said the cleanup brought the cost of the project up to approximately $675,000. The total budget for the second phase, which covers the area from Center Street to the Narrows Bridge, is $700,000.

It was the second time during phase two of the project that workers had to deal with contaminated soil. A batch of gasoline contamination was also found on Main Street, not far from where the gas tank was uncovered.

The project brought updated curbing, sidewalks, street lights, and signage to the area.

Pina says he will likely be ready to close the book on phase two this fall. He is still waiting for a solar-powered crosswalk sign for the area of Cumberland Farms. Benches and trash receptacles for the Narrows Bridge are also on the way.

Additionally, Pina is going to have a wooden "Welcome to Wareham" sign made by students at the Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School. He is also planning to install a map of Main Street in Pezzoli Square, which will be complete with names of businesses.