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Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
PROJECT UPDATE

Date:

Updated March 29, 2023

Contact:

MWRA Public Affairs


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


image of pump station

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

March 29, 2023

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Crew No 1 – Installation of 24 inch pipe to Meter 234 complete (Disinfection, Sampling and Activation)

Crew 2 at Aberjona River - Access pits on both sides and install of new 36 inch pipe inside existing 48 inch pipe

Completed Section 29 Stoneham - abandonment disconnecting all existing valves at zoo and Stoneham and filling pipeline with flow fill

Easement – Replace existing 48 inch PCCP with ductile

March 2, 2023

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Installation of new valve vault structure on Forest Street

Steel Sheeting for sliplining pits

Access pits on both sides-installation of new 36-inch pipe inside existing 48-inch pipe

Crew No 3-Section 29 of Abandonment consists of disconnecting all existing valves at Zoo and Stoneham and filing pipeline with flowfill

February 2, 2023

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Installation of new MWRA gate valve and Gillis Pump Station interconnection

Forest Street Bypass in Winchester

December 28, 2022

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Installation of new MWRA gate valve and Gillis Pump Station interconnection

Blow off Washington Street

Washington Street Gate Valve

November 7, 2022

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Installation of new MWRA supplied valve at straw point park

New supply line to the Stone Zoo

DCR pool area-replacing Section 29 20-inch cast iron pipe with new ductile iron

August 9, 2022

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Installation of large concrete valve structure on Fellsway

Installing new 48" ductile iron pipe

Forest Street in Winchester- completed installation of local 12” water main and new services

June 29, 2022

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Installation of 160 lf of 36’ DI pipe at Gillis Pump Station

Connection to Section 110

Forest Street in Winchester-installation of local 12” water main as well as installation of Meter 234 bypass water line


Test pits on Fallon Road to confirm material of pipe to Bear Hill tank. 

April 28, 2022

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Work Update:

  • Preconstruction surveys & photos
  • Meetings with DCR and MassDOT
  • Tree removal
  • Test pits to confirm OD of PCCP pipe
  • Installation of 24" pipe on South Street

Traffic message boards for upcoming work on Forest Street in Winchester

Section 89A:  36” PCCP - Fallon Road

March 31, 2022

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Section 89A:  36” T & S South Street

Section 89A:  36” PCCP - Fallon Road

February 3, 2022

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Work Update:

  • Submittals
  • Permits
  • Preconstruction surveys
  • Meetings with DCR and MassDOT
  • Tree protection/removal

Outside picture test pits, tree protection and signs

Test pits on Route 93 & Fallon Road

January 19, 2022

We will post project updates in this section.

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For more information, please contact MWRA Public Affairs.

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