About This Project
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) has begun a new construction project to improve water distribution service within the Northern High Service Zone by replacing a portion of the Section 56 pipeline in the Cities of Revere and Lynn. This section of water pipeline was previously attached to the General Edwards Bridge over the Saugus River, but was removed in 2018 due to severe corrosion. Prior to removal, it provided critical redundancy for the MWRA Northern High Service Zone (this pipeline provides redundancy to portions of Lynn, Lynnfield, Marblehead, Nahant, Peabody, Revere, Saugus and Swampscott).
Since this portion of the Section 56 watermain has been inoperable, it has made the Northern High Service Zone vulnerable to disruptions in water supply if the pipe providing the primary water supply to these areas were to fail. The MWRA is currently in the process of replacing this pipeline by installing a new section in the ground under the water of the Saugus River. Once complete, this project will ensure water system redundancy and reliability for the MWRA Northern High Service Zone, as well as increased water pressure and other benefits.
The $9.4 million project was awarded to Bond Civil & Utility Construction in Medford, MA in 2025.
Summary of Scope of Work:
The project will install approximately 4,800 feet of water pipeline, using an open-cut method for work on land (2,000 feet of water pipeline) and a trenchless underwater pipeline construction method called horizontal directional drilling (HDD) to cross the Saugus River (2,800 feet of water pipeline). HDD is a trenchless method of installing underground utilities particularly suited for installing pipelines beneath obstructions and minimizing surface impacts. The major components of the project are as follows:
- Installation of 20-inch diameter water main and appurtenances, including fittings, valves, air release valves, and blow-offs in Hanson Street in Lynn, from the existing Section 56 pipeline in Route 1A to the Saugus River HDD crossing point;
- Installation of a 20-inch water main under the Saugus River using HDD methods. The HDD section of the water main is approximately 2,800 feet long;
- Installation of 20-inch water main including fittings, valves, air release valves, and blow-offs in Rice Avenue in Revere, from the Saugus River HDD crossing point at the Point of Pines Yacht Club to the existing Section 56 pipeline between the Route 1A northbound onramp and the Lynnway; and,
- All other required work during construction, including but not limited to environmental controls, traffic management, replacement of utilities, surface restoration, road reconstruction and pavement restoration, and sidewalk reconstruction.
Please note, property owners within approximately 250 feet of the project will be offered a free pre-construction survey of their property at no cost prior to the start of construction conducted by GZA. Notices regarding the pre-construction surveys will be mailed to property owners in early September 2025
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