Northern Extra High Pressure Zone Improvements (Contract 7725): Section 63 (Lexington)

Project type

Water

Project status

Communities

About this Project

The Northern Extra High (NEH) Pressure Zone provides water to Arlington, Bedford (through Lexington), Belmont, Lexington, Waltham and Winchester. The six communities are supplied an average of 11.55 million gallons per day (mgd) from MWRA through twelve community meters. Water is pumped to these communities and into storage facilities in Arlington, Lexington and Waltham by three pumping stations:Spring Street Pumping Station, Brattle Court Pumping Station, and Lexington Street Pumping Station. The pumping stations draw water from the Norumbega Covered Storage Facility via the Weston Aqueduct Supply Main 3 (WASM 3).

The NEH Pressure Zone Improvements Project involves installation of up to 23,100 linear feet of new 24-inch water main, replacement of approximately 8,400 linear feet of existing water main, rehabilitation or replacement of approximately 4,800 linear feet of existing water main,installation of two new community meters, and rehabilitation or replacement of existing community meters. The project is necessary to improve redundancy in the NEH pressure zone by the rehabilitation or replacement of again infrastructure. The majority of the improvements are located in Lexington and Arlington.

Scope

The first construction package includes the installation of approximately 5,300 linear feet of new 24-inch water main to extend Section 63 in Lexington, as the first leg of the redundant loop, which will also allow Burlington Phase 2 pipeline to connect to the MWRA system. The new MWRA pipeline is scheduled to completed by the time Burlington’s Phase 2 project is complete (Contract #6522)

The second construction package will include installation of up to 11,100 linear feet of new 24-inch water main in Lexington to interconnect Section 45 to the new pipeline installed in CP1 to improve redundancy. CP2 will also include installation of a new meter for Lexington and replacement of 3,400 linear feet of 20-inch pipe in Section 63 in Arlington with 24-inch piping.

The third construction package will include installation of up to 6,700 linear feet of new 24-inch water main in Lexington to interconnect Section 83 to Section 45 and the new pipeline installed in CP2 to improve redundancy. CP3 will also include increasing the capacity of approximately 5,000 linear feet of Section 34 and 45 in Arlington with 20-inch pipe, rehabilitation or replacement of approximately 4,800 linear feet of 24-inch Section 61 in Arlington, installation of one new meter for Belmont, and rehabilitation and replacement of existing community water meters for Arlington, Lexington, Belmont, Waltham and Winchester.

Schedule

The expected completion date will be in 2027. The construction will take approximately 94 months (seven years and ten months).

Updates

Dear Resident:

As you may know, the Minuteman Bikeway segment between Maple Street and Bow Street in the Town of Lexington has reopened for public use. The MWRA and its contractor, RJV Construction Corporation of Westwood, MA, appreciate your patience while the second phase of the Section 45 and 63 Northern Extra High Pressure Zone Improvements Project (Contract 7725) has been underway.

Currently, the temporary bike lanes along Massachusetts Avenue that were installed to assist bicyclists while the segment was closed will remain in place to test community interest in permanently keeping the lanes. By keeping the temporary bike lanes in place, bicyclists will have a safer alternative to visit and ride along this stretch of roadway.

Should the town determine that the temporary bike lanes should be removed, the MWRA’s contractor will remove the bike lane markings along Massachusetts Avenue between Maple Street and Bow Street.

If you would like to offer input as the town monitors the use of the protected bike lanes, please send comments to Ross Morrow at [work/Town%20samples/RMorrow@Lexingtonma.gov]RMorrow@Lexingtonma.gov or call (781) 274-8323 by Monday, July 6, 2026, at 3:00PM. The matter is expected to be discussed during that evening’s Selectboard meeting at 6:30PM.

MWRA’s contractor, RJV Construction Corporation out of Westwood, MA, continues to make progress with the Northern Extra High Pressure Zone Improvement Project.
While the work along the Minuteman Bikeway between Maple Street and Bow Street in the Town of Lexington is nearing completion, a small leak has been identified, requiring it to be addressed prior to bringing it online for service and final paving operations.
This work will result in a delay of the opening of this segment of the Minuteman Bikeway to the public with paving expected to occur the week of Monday, June 8, 2026, and open to the public on approximately Saturday, June 13, 2026, weather and other unforeseen circumstances pending.
- The temporary bike lanes along Massachusetts Avenue remain available for public use.

Dear Resident/Business:

As you know, RJV Construction Corporation of Westwood, MA, continues to make progress with the MWRA’s Sections 45 and 63 water pipeline improvement project, which will provide critical water distribution redundancy within the region.

Currently, the contractor is working near the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Hibbert Street in the Town of Lexington to install the watermain pipeline. A large amount of subsurface ledge has been found in this area, requiring the contractor to remove it in order to advance the project, which may take up to approximately four weeks to complete.

To better advance the work, the contractor has conducted predrilling for much of the ledge to ease the breaking and expedite the removal of the rock along the route. Crews will continue to work a 7:00AM to 3:00PM, Monday through Friday schedule to complete the work.

We apologize for the inconvenience this project may have caused. Visit MWRA.com for additional information. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email or call the MWRA contact listed below:

Troy Wall
Community Relations Liaison
(617) 305-5762 or troy.wall@mwra.com

Dear Resident:

As you may know, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) and its contractor, RJV Construction of Westwood, MA, are currently underway with the second phase of the Section 45 and 63 Northern Extra High Pressure Zone Improvements Project (Contract 7725) within the Towns of Lexington and Arlington. The project will provide critical system redundancy in the region through the installation or replacement of approximately 14,500 linear feet of water mains and a new community meter.

Starting the week of Monday, March 9, 2026, or shortly thereafter, a crew will begin night work at 1540 Massachusetts Avenue in the Town of Arlington. The contractor will work a four-day, 10-hour schedule, Monday through Thursday from 7:00PM to 5:00AM. Night work is expected to take approximately two to three weeks to complete, weather and other unforeseen circumstances pending.

Vehicles will continue to be able to travel in both directions along the roadway; however, new traffic patterns, signage, and a police detail will be on site to assist motorists around the work site. Additionally, during non-work hours (days and weekends) trenches will be plated, and the roadway will be open for normal traffic usage.

The MWRA will periodically distribute information as the project advances via neighborhood notifications, website updates, and electronically. To receive text and/or email notifications, please sign-up through the MWRA’s Everbridge system (visit www.MWRA.com, scroll to the bottom of the page, and click “Follow Us”; there visitors can “Sign Up for MWRA Notifications” and then choose the Lexington, Arlington: Sections 45 & 63 project).

We apologize for any inconvenience created as a result of this project. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call or email the contact listed below:

Troy Wall
Community Relations Liaison
Troy.Wall@MWRA.com or (617) 305-5762

UPDATE:

The Minuteman Bikeway will be closed between Maple Street and Bow Street in the Town of Lexington starting this Monday, November 17, 2025. The closure will take place Mondays through Fridays and open for weekend use.
- On Friday afternoons the contractor will install a temporary milled and compacted stone base to enable easier weekend use for residents and visitors.
- Additionally, all temporary bike lanes have been installed along Massachusetts Avenue as an alternative while work is underway along the bikeway.
Work on the bike path is expected to take place during the winter months and reopened in spring 2026.
- An exact date cannot be provided at this time.
Importantly, the MWRA's contractor will be conducting permanent surface restoration work along the Minuteman Bikeway between Maple Street and Bow Street, which is the project's limits along this pathway.

Starting next week, the MWRA’s contractor will be implementing a detour on Maple Street between Butterfield Road and Solomon Pierce Road in the Town of Lexington during work hours, which are from 7:00AM to 3:00PM.
- During non-work hours (late afternoons and evenings), this section of Maple Street will be returned to normal traffic patterns with roadway plates installed.
This detour is expected to be in place for approximately two to three days in order to install subsurface pipeline infrastructure.
- Local traffic will have access to homes and businesses; through traffic will be diverted onto Butterfield Road and Solomon Pierce Road before returning to Maple Street.
- Additionally, Police details and roadway signage will be in place to assist motorists around the work site.

As part of this project, starting in mid-November 2025, the MWRA’s contractor will be working along the Minuteman Bikeway between Maple Street and Bow Street in Lexington.
- This portion of work is expected to be completed in Spring 2026, weather and other unforeseen circumstances pending.
While work is underway, a detour will be in place to accommodate bicyclists, pedestrians, and other recreational users.
Currently, the contractor is preparing a temporary bike lane along Massachusetts Avenue. Preparations include the milling and paving of the lane along the roadway, as well as the painting of new pavement markings.
- Additionally, once work begins on the Minuteman Bikeway, appropriate detour signage will be in place to assist users traversing around the area.

Starting on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, or shortly thereafter, a crew will begin night work on Massachusetts Avenue between Hibbert Street in Lexington and Lancaster Road in Arlington.
- During this time, work hours will be from 8:00PM to 5:00AM.
Additionally, during non-work hours (days and weekends) trenches will be plated, and the roadway will be open for normal traffic usage.
- Police details and appropriate signage will be in place to assist vehicular traffic around the work site.
Night work is expected to be completed in approximately 6 to 8 weeks, depending on unforeseen conditions, and then work will transition back to day hours.

Starting on Monday, July 7, 2025, or shortly thereafter, a crew will begin working along Massachusetts Avenue at the Bow Street intersection.
- Work hours will be from 7:00AM to 3:00PM.
Police details and appropriate signage will be in place to assist vehicular traffic through the work site.
- No vehicular detours are expected at this time.
During non-work hours, which are nights and weekends, trenches will be plated and the roadway will be open for normal traffic usage.

MWRA, and its contractor, will be commencing the second phase of the Section 45 and 63 Northern Extra High Pressure Zone Improvements Project (Contract 7725) within the Town of Lexington.
- The project will provide critical system redundancy in the region through the installation or replacement of approximately 14,500 linear feet of water mains and a new community meter.
Site preparation work will start the week of Monday, June 2, 2025, or shortly thereafter, and will include the drilling of characteristic borings into the ground along Maple Street to collect samples and data about subsurface conditions. Additionally, once fully underway, the project will follow along the below route:
- Maple Street from Lowell Street to the Minuteman Bikeway;
- Minuteman Bikeway from Maple Street to Bow Street;
- Bow Street from the Minuteman Bikeway to Massachusetts Avenue;
- Massachusetts Avenue from Bow Street to the Lexington/Arlington municipal line; and,
- Summer Street in the Town of Arlington.
Initial work hours will be from 10:00AM to 2:00PM from the Maple Street/Lowell Street intersection to approximately 1,000 feet along Maple Street towards Butterfield Road.
- Once work starts along the Minuteman Bikeway segment, a bike detour will be in place. The project is expected to be largely completed in the Town of Lexington by late 2026.
Police details and appropriate signage will be in place to assist vehicular traffic through the work site. No vehicular detours are expected at this time.
- During non-work hours, which are nights and weekends, trenches will be plated and the roadway will be open for normal traffic usage.

Starting Thursday, September 12, 2024, the MWRA will commence milling and paving operations within the Lowell Street, Winchester Drive, and Maple Street intersection in the Town of Lexington.
- This upcoming work is expected to take approximately two to three business days, weather and other unforeseen circumstances permitting.
- Additionally, milling and paving work at the intersection will occur from 9:00AM-5:00PM.
To enable a safe work environment while completing paving operations in a timely fashion, the MWRA, in consultation with the Town of Lexington, may utilize roadway adjustments and detours to assist with the flow of traffic.
- Police details, project personnel, and proper signage will be in place to assist motorists traveling within the intersection.
Importantly, access will be provided through the area while roadway milling and paving is underway; however, please allow a little extra time during your commute.

Starting the week of Monday, September 2, 2024, or shortly thereafter, the MWRA will commence milling and paving operations along Lowell Street from the Maple Street intersection to Summer Street, and along Summer Street to the Reed Street intersection.
- This upcoming work is expected to take approximately two weeks, weather and other unforeseen circumstances permitting.
- Additionally, roadway work will occur Monday through Friday from 7:00AM-5:00PM.
To enable a safe work environment while completing paving operations in a timely fashion, the MWRA, in consultation with the Town of Lexington, will utilize roadway adjustments and detours to assist the flow of traffic.
- Traffic patterns will likely be modified regularly while work progresses; however, police details, project personnel, and roadway signage will be in place to assist motorists through the work site.
Importantly, residents will have access to their properties while roadway milling is underway, but please allow a little extra time in case large machinery is near your residence.
- After paving commences, access may be delayed by approximately ½ to 1 hour while the new asphalt sets.
Lastly, once milling and paving has been completed along Lowell Street and Summer Street, the MWRA and its contractor will then work to finalize roadway improvements within the Lowell Street and Maple Street intersection.

Starting Thursday, July 25, 2024, or shortly thereafter, the MWRA will commence roadway paving operations along Lowell Street and Summer Street in the Town of Lexington.
- This work will include the milling and paving of both sides of the roadways from the Lowell Street/Maple Street intersection to the Summer Street/Reed Street intersection.
Work is expected to last approximately one month, weather and other unforeseen circumstances pending.
Additionally, roadway work will occur Monday through Friday from 7:00AM-5:00PM.
To enable a safe work environment while completing the paving in a timely fashion, paving operations will occur along one side of the roadways and then move along to the other side.
- The roadways will be restricted to one direction of traffic, with the other direction being detoured to adjacent streets.
- The schedule for these detours will change regularly while work progresses; however, police details, project personnel, and roadway signage will be in place to assist motorists through the work site.
Importantly, residents will have access to their properties while roadway milling is underway; but, please allow a little extra time in case large machinery is near your residence.
- Furthermore, once paving commences, access may be delayed by approximately ½ to 1 hour while the new asphalt sets.

For the week of Monday, August 28, 2023, construction activities are scheduled Monday through Thursday, from 7:00AM to 5:00PM. Work will then resume on Tuesday, September 5, 2023. For the following weeks, the contractor will adhere to its normal Monday through Friday schedule.
Water service connections between Summer Street and Bartlett Avenue will continue. Lowell Street traffic will be reduced to one-lane with two-way traffic maintained by a police detail.
Additionally, starting on Monday, the MWRA and its contractor, Albanese D&S, Inc., will begin leveling and paving a final patch along Summer Street, which will be closed between Reed Road and Lowell Street. Traffic will be detoured at the Park Avenue Extension with local traffic detoured at Evergreen Lane. Residents along Summer Street will have access to their properties; however, intermittent delays should be expected. This paving effort is expected to take approximately one week.

Currently, the MWRA and its contractor are expecting to complete the installation of the new water pipeline along Lowell Street in the Town of Lexington by the end of summer 2023.
The detour that was previously in place along Summer Street between Lowell and Haskell Streets has been lifted.
To enable proper work and safety conditions, Lowell Street has been restricted to one-lane with alternating two-way traffic.
- Additionally, intermittent detours throughout the summer season will be necessary as the installation of residential services continues.
- The schedule for these detours will change regularly with work progressing along Lowell Street.
  - Furthermore, large trucks may be detoured to Maple Street and Massachusetts Avenue towards the Town of Arlington.
Traffic signage has been posted, and police details are on site during construction activities, which are from 7:00AM to 5:00PM, Monday through Friday, to assist with the flow of traffic.
The Authority and its contractor will potentially commence paving operations later in the fall season; however, the schedule has not been coordinated yet.
- Prior to the starting of paving operations along Summer Street and Lowell Street, the MWRA will inform the Town of Lexington of the paving schedules

Work Update

Completed installation of 24” Water Main
Completing blow offs and air valves
Plan to start pressure test and disinfect the MWRA 24” water main by end of December then return next Spring to install town’s 16” water main