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

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.

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