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.
Construction Update (December 4, 2023)
- 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.
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October 10, 2023
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Washington Street-local water and sewer
Washington Street-local water and sewer
Washington Street-local water and sewer
Washington Street-local water and sewer
Albany Street & Montvale Avenue at Night-installation of 36-inch ductile iron pipe
August 3, 2023
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- 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.

The new 48-inch ductile iron water main recently installed along albany Street in the City of Woburn, which is part of this project.
July 11, 2023
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- Contractor installed 1450 linear feet of 48-inch pipe
- Eversource completed work
- Starting mid-July Montvale Avenue at night
- Woburn permit states Washington Street work hours are nights
June 13, 2023
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Easement – replace existing 48-inch Pre-stressed Concrete Cylinder Pipe (PCCP) with new 48-inch Ductile Iron Pipe
Easement - Winchester to Woburn
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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