Holland St. & Broadway Water Main Upgrades

Beginning in July 2021, the City’s contractor, Albanese D&S Inc., will upgrade the water mains beneath Holland St. between Simpson Ave. and Broadway, and beneath Broadway between Alewife Brook Parkway and Lovell St.

The water main in this area dates as far back as 1898. Old pipes suffer from tuberculation, a form of corrosion, which reduces the amount of water that the pipe can supply.

As part of this project, the water main will be cleaned and lined with cement to improve water flow. Valves and hydrants and some water services will also be replaced to provide better system functionality.

While all timelines are subject to change, work is anticipated to be completed by December 2021. Daily work hours are approximately 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Some residents will experience interruptions to their water service when contractors install temporary water mains, then again when properties are reconnected to the new water mains. Sign up for the City’s alert system to receive a phone call, email, and/or text message before planned interruptions to your service.

Work Zone Map (PDF)

Summer – Fall 2021: Clean and line water main on Holland St. and Broadway.
Albanese D&S will patch sections of pavement as they complete work in each area and again after the winter freeze-thaw cycle. This segment of Holland St. is expected to be repaved in its entirety in 2022 as part of the City’s Pavement Management Program.
Spring 2022: Final paving of Broadway

Anticipated Community Impacts

Traffic

Holland St. and Broadway are expected to remain open to through traffic for the duration of the project.
Lane closures, lane shifts, and parking restrictions may be implemented as needed.

Water Service Interruptions

Some residents will experience interruptions to their water service when contractors install temporary water mains, then again when properties are reconnected to the new water mains.
Sign up for the City’s alert system to receive a phone call, email, and/or text message before planned interruptions to your service. Flyers will also be distributed to affected properties in advance.

Noise

Excavation may produce moderate noise during work hours (typically between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.) along the length of the project. Crews need to excavate to access the existing water main in order to clean and line the pipes.

Stay Informed

The City of Somerville offers a number of ways to stay informed about construction.

City Alerts

Get a phone call, email, and/or text message before interruptions to your water service or disruptive construction in your neighborhood. Click here to sign up.

Construction Update Email

Get an email that summarizes construction around the city planned for the week ahead. Click here to sign up.

Questions?

Email construction@somervillema.gov, call the Engineering Department at (617) 625-6600 ext. 5400, or call 311.

Programs & Initiatives

HP 12C calculator alongside a stack of coins

Technical Assistance Programming

If you are a business, consultant, or non-profit that may be able to support Somerville’s business community, we encourage you to respond to our Request for Information (RFI).

School Construction Advisory Group (CAG)

Members will develop a recommendation to the Mayor on both the location and scope of a renovated or new school to meet the needs of the Winter Hill Community Innovation School and potentially the Benjamin G. Brown School.

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