Section 89 Northern Intermediate High Pipeline Replacement (MWRA Contract 7117)

Project type

Water

Project status

About This Project

MWRA’s Northern Intermediate High (NIH) pressure zone has supplied water to the communities of Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield, Wilmington, Winchester, and Woburn through a single 48-inch diameter pipeline, fed by the Gillis and Spot Pond Pumping Stations in Stoneham. MWRA recently completed the NIH Redundancy Project with the installation and activation of the new Section 110 pipeline through the communities of Stoneham, Reading and Woburn. Section 110 provides full pipeline redundancy for the water supply to the NIH communities. Activation of the new Section 110 pipeline has allowed MWRA to proceed with design and construction for the replacement of Section 89, which has previously been the single transmission line to the NIH communities. Section 89 was installed in the 1970’s and is made of material called pre-stressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP), which has been susceptible to catastrophic failure. With the new redundant water pipeline in place, MWRA will be able to proceed with the replacement of the vulnerable PCCP portions of Section 89 with the new ductile iron pipe. This $32.6 million contract was awarded to P.Gioioso & Sons, Inc. in May 2021 for a contract term of 1475 calendar days from the Notice to Proceed.

Summary Scope of New Work

Section 89 of the Northern Intermediate High Pipeline is being replaced for added water distribution and redundancy in the Town of Winchester, Woburn, Stoneham and the Town of Wakefield.

Removal of approximately 10,500 linear feet of 48-inch diameter PCCP water main
Installation of new 48-inch steel and ductile iron water main and appurtenances in Stoneham, Winchester, and Woburn by opencut methods.
Furnish and install new 48-inch valves, precast valve vaults, air valves, blow-off assemblies, manholes and all appurtenant work along the 10,500 linear feet.
Removal and replacement of valves, precast valve vaults, air valves, blow- off assemblies, manholes along 9,000 linear feet of 36-inch diameter ductile iron water main, in Woburn.
Installation of linestops and bypass piping to facilitate isolation at the Bear Hill Tank connection.
Abandonment of approximately 6,000 linear feet of 24-inch diameter water main, Section 29, in Stoneham.
Transfer of service and meter connections from Section 29 to Section 110. Replacement of Meter 200 due to age and condition of interior piping and fittings within the existing meter vault on Washington Street.
Removal, handling, transportation and disposal of rock, contaminated soil and groundwater along the pipeline routes.
Restoration of all disturbed areas and utilities impacted by the work.

For more information, please contact MWRA Public Affairs.

Updates

On Monday, June 16, 2025, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority’s (MWRA) contractor, P.Gioioso & Sons, Inc., will be located in front of Buttonwood Road off of North Border Road as part of the Section 89 Northern Intermediate High Pipeline Replacement Project.
- This will result in the need to temporarily close vehicular access to Buttonwood Road.
Residents may wish to plan accordingly and park their vehicles at the former Friendly’s restaurant parking lot prior to 9:00AM on Monday.
- Access to Buttonwood Road is expected to be restored by 5:00PM (work in front of Buttonwood Road is not expected to impact access longer than the one day to complete).
Additionally, on Monday, a member of staff will visit each residential home on Buttonwood Road, knock on front doors, remind residents of the upcoming work, and ask if any vehicles need to be moved prior to when the work starts.
- Please note, emergency vehicle access will be provided to Buttonwood Road at all times.
- Should it become necessary, the contractor will place steel plates on top of the pipeline trench to enable first responder vehicular access.
Furthermore, pedestrians should use caution while entering and exiting Buttonwood Road due to the use of heavy machinery in the immediate area.
- Police details, work crews, and signage will be in the area to assist residents through the work zone.

Project update:

Installing 2,700 linear feet of 48-inch ductile iron pipe
Traffic detour in place to support construction activities.
Active construction near meter 53 in Stoneham
Restoration work underway in Winchester
Milling and paving is near completion on Forest Street in Winchester

Phase 4:

2700 linear feet of 48-inch Ductile Iron Pipe
Traffic detour
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Construction at Meter 53 in Stoneham
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Crew working on Route 93 in Stoneham
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Crew working on Route 93 in Stoneham
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Winchester restoration
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Winchester restoration
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Milling and paving on Forest Street in Winchester

The MWRA and its contractor, P.Gioioso & Sons, Inc., continue to conduct restoration work along Forest Street and Eugene Drive in the Town of Winchester.
- Starting this week, both roadways will be milled in preparation of final overlay paving.
- Milling is expected to occur today and Wednesday, June 4, 2025.
Work hours will be 7:00AM to 5:00PM. Access to residential properties will remain throughout the milling process; however, please allow a little extra time in case large machinery is near your residence.
- Please note, work schedules are subject to change should conditions, such as inclement weather, arises.
Once final overlay paving has been scheduled, an additional notification will be distributed to the neighborhood.
- This work will include driveway apron paving to ensure a smooth transition into the roadway.
- After paving operations commence, residential access may be delayed by approximately one to two hours while the new asphalt sets.

The MWRA and its contractor, P.Gioioso & Sons, Inc., continue to conduct restoration work along Forest Street and Eugene Drive in the Town of Winchester.
- Starting this week, both roadways will be milled in preparation of final overlay paving.
- Milling is expected to occur today and Wednesday, June 4, 2025.
Work hours will be 7:00AM to 5:00PM. Access to residential properties will remain throughout the milling process; however, please allow a little extra time in case large machinery is near your residence.
- Please note, work schedules are subject to change should conditions, such as inclement weather, arises.
Once final overlay paving has been scheduled, an additional notification will be distributed to the neighborhood.
- This work will include driveway apron paving to ensure a smooth transition into the roadway.
- After paving operations commence, residential access may be delayed by approximately one to two hours while the new asphalt sets.

The MWRA is entering the final phase of the Section 89 Northern Intermediate High Pipeline Replacement project (Contract 7117).
Currently, the contractor, P. Gioioso & Sons, Inc., is completing the installation of the new pipeline along the Fellsway in the Town of Stoneham.
Starting the week of Monday, May 12, 2025, the contractor will be mobilizing to Fallon Road and the North Border Road / Main Street intersection.
- The two crews will work towards each other along North Border Road in order to complete the work quickly.
- This effort is expected to take approximately four to five months to complete, weather and other unforeseen circumstances pending.
While this work is ongoing, traffic management plans will be in place during work hours, which are Monday through Friday from 9:00AM to 5:00PM. Details of the traffic management plan are:
- Fallon Road – motorists will alternate through the work site using a single lane.
- North Border Road – motorists will be detoured around the roadway using Park Street, Marble Street, and Main Street.
- Important to note, residents residing along North Border Road will be able to access properties during work hours. When leaving properties, residents will turn right onto North Border Road towards Fallon Road, and will access homes via the North Border Road / Main Street intersection.
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Police details and appropriate signage will be in place to assist vehicular traffic through and around the area. During non-work hours, which are nights and weekends, Fallon Road and North Border Road will be open to normal traffic usage.

Starting on Monday, April 28, 2025, the contractor will be installing the new pipeline along the Fellsway.
- This work, which will occur Monday through Thursday from 7:00PM to 5:00AM, will require motorists utilizing the I-93 northbound off-ramp to travel through Straw Point Park and then onto South Street during work hours.
- Appropriate detour signage will be posted to assist motorists as they traverse around the work site.
- During non-work hours (days and weekends), the roadway will be open for traffic in both directions. A surface roadway plate will necessitate reduced vehicle speeds.
Work on the Fellsway is expected to be completed in approximately two to three weeks.

With the activation of the new pipeline in Winchester, the MWRA and its contractor, P. Gioioso & Sons, Inc., are entering the restoration phase of work for the Section 89 Northern Intermediate High Pipeline Replacement project. This effort includes:
- The removing of all materials and equipment associated with the project from the area;
- The spreading of grass seed and loam at impacted lawns;
- The repairing of any driveway aprons and sidewalk areas;
- The realigning of roadway curbing along Eugene Drive;
- The construction of new handicap ramps at Eugene Drive and Bellevue Avenue;
- The planting of evergreens and painting of the air vent piping at the entrance to Eugene Drive;
- The milling, regrading, and paving of Eugene Drive from Forest Street to the MWRA easement;
- The milling, regrading, and paving of Forest Street from the Route 93 overpass to the MWRA easement area off of Forest Street;
- The restoration of the easement towards the City of Woburn (including seed and loam); and,
- The reinstallation of guard rail, curbing, and a gate at the easement off of Forest Street.
Additionally, where the alignment was altered to avoid construction in the front lawns of several homes on Eugene Drive, the MWRA is constructing a solid fence approximately eight feet in height at the entrance of the easement off of Eugene Drive.
- The length of the fence will traverse the new easement entrance and will be on private property as part of the mitigation with the current homeowner prior to the start of the project.
Furthermore, the intermittent stream within the MWRA easement and its surrounding area will be restored under the supervision of an independent environmental scientist in the summer months in accordance with the Conservation Order of Conditions.
- Due to the potential damage trees and other rooted vegetation can cause on pipelines, the MWRA does not replant trees in its easement areas where there is subsurface infrastructure.
Reconstruction of Eugene Drive and Forest Street, including milling and base paving, is expected to start next week (the week of Monday, April 28^th).
- Access to residential properties will remain throughout the milling process; however, please allow a little extra time in case large machinery is near your residence.
- Once base paving operations commence, residential access may be delayed by approximately ½ to 1 hour while the new asphalt sets.
Prior to the start of final overlay paving operations, residents will receive an additional notification as access to driveways may be restricted for several hours.

Starting the week of Monday, March 31, 2025, the disinfection and activation of the constructed pipeline in the Town of Winchester will commence.
- This process will require 24 hours per day of observations for up to seven days.
During this effort, no disruptions to water service or any other utilities is expected, and there will not be a need for further excavation.
- Additionally, while the activation is underway, vehicles with flashing lights will be stationed in the area along the new pipelines’ route during non-construction hours.
Furthermore, during the next couple of weeks, the contractor will be making efforts to restore Eugene Drive.
- This includes removing all materials and equipment and thoroughly cleaning the roadway, placing seed and loom at impacted lawns, realigning roadway curbing, and placing temporary pavement to smooth the street at the impacted areas.
In the coming months, after the roadway has settled to enable paving, the contractor will be on site to restore areas of the roadways that were impacted by the project.
- This includes the paving of Eugene Drive from Forest Street to the MWRA easement area, the paving of Forest Street from the Route 93 overpass to the Forest Street easement area, and any sidewalk and driveway restoration work.

Currently, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority’s (MWRA) contractor is working to activate the newly installed water pipeline.
- Prior to activation, the MWRA conducts testing to ensure that the pipeline will only require routine maintenance for the next 40-50 years.
However, during testing of the pipeline between Stoneham and Winchester, the MWRA is not obtaining satisfactory pressurization results that will allow full activation.
- Further investigation into the issue, including excavating test holes on Eugene Drive, are necessary.
During this time, the previously implemented detour will be in place during construction hours.
- Police details are on site to assist. This work is expected to be completed in the coming days.
Afterwards, the final phase of the newly constructed pipeline will be disinfection and activation.
- Disinfection is currently expected to start the week of Monday, February 10, 2025, or shortly thereafter.
- When the pipeline is activated, it will require 24 hours per day of observations for up to seven days.
Importantly, there will be no disruptions to water service or any other utilities, and there will not be a need for further excavation.
- While this effort is underway, construction vehicles with flashing lights will be stationed in the area along the new pipelines’ route.
- Please do not be alarmed if you see project associated vehicles and staff at unusual hours during this process.

Remaining work:

3,000 linear feet of pipe remaining.
The project completion is targeted for August 2025.

Eugene drive-New alignment for 48-inch Ductile Iron pipe

Alongside route 93 in Stoneham/Winchester area. Driving steel sheeting along stream.

Steel sheeting along stream in Stoneham/Winchester

At Route 93 Exit Ramp-Access pits on both sides of ramp

At exit ramp: Slipline new 36-inch pipe inside existing 48-inch pipe

Crews from P Gioioso & Sons continue to work to replace the Section 89 water transmission pipeline, which was originally built in the 1970’s.
- However, they continue to encounter high levels of ledge within the easement area off of Eugene Drive in the Town of Winchester.
Where able, the contractor has predrilled ledge at several locations to ease the process in removing it in order to advance the project.
- Currently, the MWRA anticipates another few weeks of ledge removal.
Additionally, in the coming weeks, the contractor will be placing temporary asphalt along Eugene Drive and Forest Street ahead of the winter season to provide a smoother vehicular commute through the area.
- In spring 2025, P Gioioso & Sons will begin coordinating permanent roadway restoration work along these roadways, as well as the realigning of curbs and the constructing of ADA compliant sidewalk ramps.

Currently, the contractor is working inside the easement between the Towns of Stoneham and Winchester and within the streambed.
While excavating the area, high amounts of ledge was unfortunately discovered, necessitating its removal in order to advance the project.
As an alternative to blasting, which is not permitted in this area, the contractor conducted predrilling at several available locations to ease the breaking and expedite the removal of the ledge along the route.
While it is difficult to pinpoint when it will conclude due to the difficult nature of the work, it is estimated to be completed in mid-October.

The MWRA’s contractor, P. Gioioso & Sons of Hyde Park, MA, is currently working at night (7:00PM to 5:00AM) along Montvale Avenue and Washington Street in the City of Woburn.
Currently, night work is in the final stages and is expected to be completed before the Chirstmas holiday.
Once this work has been completed, the contractor will demobilize all the equipment and materials currently located on Albany Street, and the MWRA will activate the new pipeline.
Final overlay paving of Albany Street, Montvale Avenue, and Washington Street is scheduled for a later date in 2024.
Contractor continues to install new 36-inch water main on Washington Street during night. Expected completion of this work is this December after which they will demobilize.
Following installation MWRA will pressure test, chlorinate, and activate new pipeline.
Contractor will mobilize to Fallon Road Stoneham in January 2024

A damp street at night. A yellow excavator is dumping dirt into a orange truck. — Montvale Avenue night work (light towers located at different locations for visibility)

A orange dump truck next to a hole dug in the street. Its night and the area is lit by large flood lights. — Montvale Avenue night work (light towers located at different locations for visibility)

Under traffic lights at a intersection next to a gas station, workers stand around equipment digging a hole, lit by flood light — Washington Street night work

Behind turn lane arrows, an excavator digs a hole, while 3 crew stand watching. — Washington Street night work

The MWRA and its contractor, P. Gioioso & Sons of Hyde Park, MA, will be working along Washington Street between Montvale Avenue and Utica Street and along Montvale Avenue between Albany Street and Washington Street at night from 7:00PM to 5:00AM. Work will be conducted Monday through Thursday (into Friday morning) starting on Monday, August 14, 2023.
This first phase involves replacement of the City water lines and sewers on Washington Street to create a corridor for the new 48-inch MWRA water pipeline.
Once the City water and sewers are relocated, the second phase will move to Montvale Ave to begin removing the existing MWRA water pipeline and installing a new 48 inch water pipeline under the roadway.
Work is expected to last approximately two to three months.
In order to safely conduct the work, this section of Washinton Street will have limited access to through traffic; and two vehicular lanes will be closed to traffic along Montvale Avenue (one lane in each direction will be open).
Importantly, access to businesses or residences will remain available during overnight construction hours.
Furthermore, traffic patterns will be clearly marked, and police details will be on site to assist with the flow of traffic.
During non-work hours, Washington Street and Montvale Avenue will not have any traffic restrictions.