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Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
PROJECT UPDATE

Date:

Updated March 2, 2023

Contact:

MWRA Public Affairs


Northern Extra High Pressure Zone Improvements (Contract 6522): Section 63 (Lexington)


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.

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

March 2, 2023

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  • No site work planned during the winter
  • Albanese is available to restore pavement if winter damage occurs
  • Schedule to re-mobilize on April 17th 2023

February 2, 2023

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Work Update

  • Completed the installation of blow offs and air valves
  • Passed all pressure tests
  • Completed disinfection
  • Activated new MWRA pipeline

Activated MWRA pipeline

Before and after of trench repair


Replacing island curbing at Lowell and Maple Street intersection


December 28, 2022

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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

Air valve manhole and vent piping installation

Installing gate valve at Lowell and Maple Street intersection (future meter site)


Replacing island curbing at Lowell and Maple Street intersection

Installing tee, reducer and bend at final tie-in at Meter 136 (Arlington Town line)


Testing valve at Meter 136 tie-in before installation

November 7, 2022

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Work Update

  • Continued installation of 24” Water Main
  • Complete blow offs and air valves
  • Plan to complete the 24” water main by December then return next spring to install town’s 16” water main

24” pipe being installed on Lowell Street

24” gate valve being installed on Lowell Street

Installing air valve manhole

Installing temporary paving every Friday

 

August 9, 2022

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Installation of 24" Water main installation

Installing temporary paving every Friday

February 16, 2022

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For more information, please contact MWRA Public Affairs.

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