Washington Street Water Main Upgrades

Updated 7/12/2020

• This project has been substantially completed. Crews will finish final cleanup and demobilize. 

Updated 5/31/2020

• Work is expected to resume the week of June 1 as part of Phase 2 of the City's COVID-19 construction schedule. Contractors plan to dig trenches on Washington St. at Hawkins St. progressing east to Webster Ave.

Updated 12/6/2019

• Crews have finished upgrading and replacing the water main on Washington St. between Line St. and Hawkins St., and all properties have been reconnected to the permanent main.
• City contractors will return in the spring to upgrade and replace the section of the main between Hawkins St. and Webster Ave.

Updated 11/1/2019

• During the week of November 4, City contractors plan to work on valves on Washington St. between Dane St. and Hawkins St., requiring parking restrictions and lane shifts.

Updated 10/25/2019

• Weather permitting, contractors plan to finish water-main installation at the Washington St. / Line St. intersection Monday, October 28. That intersection is expected to be closed to through traffic during work hours.
• Later in the week, they plan to install tees on Washington St. between Dane St. and Hawkins St., requiring parking restrictions and lane shifts.

Updated 10/18/2019

• During the week of October 21, contractors plan to install a new water main on Washington St. between Beacon St. and Line St., requiring parking restrictions and lane shifts.
• Crews may also finish remaining work on valves between Beacon St. and Hawkins St.

Updated 10/10/2019

• On Tuesday, October 15, crews will be working in the southwestern corner of the Washington St. / Beacon St. intersection (the Bergamot / Kebab Factory corner). Through traffic is expected to be maintained. Pedestrians should note posted signage.

Updated 10/4/2019

• Early during the week of October 7, crews plan to work on Washington St. at Calvin St., requiring lane shifts.
• Midweek, crews expect to move to the southwestern corner of the Washington St. / Beacon St. intersection (the Bergamot / Kebab Factory corner). Through traffic is expected to be maintained. Pedestrians should note posted signage.

Updated 9/27/2019

• During the week of September 30, crews plan to continue work on Washington St. between Beacon St. and Leland St., installing new water valves within excavated pits. Lane shifts may be required.

Updated 9/6/2019

• City contractors have finished cleaning and lining the water main with cement on Washington St. between Beacon St. and Hawkins St., which will improve water flow.
• During the week of September 9, crews plan to excavate between Hawkins St. and Webster Ave. to replace that section of the water main, which may require lane shifts.

Updated 8/30/2019

• Crews are cleaning and lining the water main with cement on Washington St. between Beacon St. and Hawkins St. and digging pits between Hawkins St. and Webster Ave. to replace the water main, requiring parking restrictions and lane shifts.

Updated 7/19/2019

• Work is expected to begin Monday, July 22, on Washington St. between Line St. and Somerville Ave. Contractors will begin installing temporary piping that will provide water service when the existing main is decommissioned for upgrades.
• Some residents will experience interruptions to their water service during construction. Sign up for the City’s alert system to ensure you're notified in advance.
• This project's approach will be similar to the recently completed work on Pearl St.; click here to hear our engineers explain exactly what to expect.

Updated 7/8/2019

• Work is expected to begin the week of July 22, 2019.

As with all construction, schedules are subject to change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, but we anticipate the following sequence of work:

• Summer - Winter 2019: Replace water main, Beacon St. to Line St.
• Summer - Winter 2019: Clean and line water main, Beacon St. to Hawkins St.
• Fall 2019 - Spring 2020: Replace water main, Hawkins St. to Somerville Ave.
• TZE will patch sections of pavement as they complete work in each area and again after the winter freeze-thaw cycle. This segment of Washington St. is expected to be repaved in its entirety in 2021 as part of the City’s pavement management program.

Traffic

• Washington St. is 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 replace and line the pipes.

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.

Weekly Construction Update Email

Get an email every Friday 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.