February 23 - February 29, 2020

The Weston Department of Public Works continued to fulfill its mission to construct and maintain the physical infrastructure that provides for the public's health and safety, to protect the environment, and to enhance the quality of life and ensure that Weston continues to be a desirable place in which to live and conduct business. The following is the weekly report, by division:

2020 Roadway Reconstruction Program - In Development

The Public Works team is developing its FY21 budget, which includes planning the next construction season activities and engineering design and permitting work.

There is a great deal of planning and coordination that goes into the overall roadway schedule and the annual roadway construction activities that also involve associated drainage, culvert, water, sidewalk, and utilities (National Grid) work.

Depending on how well the coordination progresses, DPW will begin the roadway reconstruction work and utility work sometime in April 2020. Residents can expect another aggressive construction season, which will be managed and balanced with the Town Center Project, as that work moves above-ground, and the start of the Josiah Smith Tavern rehabilitation (overseen by the Facilities Dept.).

Roadways anticipated for the 2020 construction season (some are dependent upon the completion of water, drainage, and gas work):

Bogle Street (round 2 of the Rubber Chip Seal program);
Conant Road (round 2 of the Rubber Chip Seal program) – Colchester to Brook Road;
Ash Street (mill and overlay);
Church Street (mill and overlay) – Conant Road to railroad;
Kings Grant Road - Spruce Hill Road to cul de sac;
Spruce Hill Road - Kings Grant Road to cul de sac;
Bay State Road - Spruce Hill Road to end;
Indian Hill Road - Kings Grant Road to end;
Webster Road - Church Street to Church Street;
Buckskin Road - Route 20 to town line;
Warren Avenue - Boston Post Road to Gun Club Lane;
Arrowhead Road - Bakers Hill Road to Bakers Hill Road;
Merriam Street* - Silver Hill Road to Sunset Road;
Newton Street - #150 to South Avenue;
October Lane - Bakers Hill Road to Conant Road;
Spring Lane - Conant Road to end of roadway

Merriam Street (Sunset Road to Silver Hill Road) – a lot of moving parts remain and need to be completed prior to the roadway reconstruction taking place, including:

completing the roadway drainage work between Westland Road and house no. 189 +/-, Westland Road and house no. 217, and house no. 245 +/- to Hallet Hill Road;
Merriam Street Culvert Replacement over Cherry Brook;
water gate replacements on Merriam Street at Cherry Brook Road (utility pole holding is required by Eversource); and
sidewalk installation (southerly section between Westland Road and Sunset Road require easements)

Town Center Improvement Project

Find construction updates - sign up for "Town Center Construction Project" email/text notifications Weston.org/StayInformed or visit project web page at Weston.org/TownCenter for three-week look ahead.

Ongoing

The construction schedule calls for the completion of subsurface work by the end of March 2020. All this work is dependent on the Utility Companies completing their work
Crews are anticipated to begin roadway work in early April
Sidewalk and curb excavations and construction is scheduled to begin in May 2020
Businesses are open and parking is available - traffic Management Plans are modified daily to maximize available parking for the businesses;

Additional Road Work Not Affiliated with the Town's Roadway Program

See updates in "State/Utility Project Work" for projects impacting roadways:
- National Grid gas main work
- Coordinated gas main replacement through DPW
See updates in "Ongoing DPW Projects" for water/drainage, etc. work at:
- Newton Street
- Legacy Trail
See updates in "Consultant Work" for larger projects at:
- Rt. 20 and Rt. 30 TIP projects
- Ash Street sidewalk

1

State/Utility Project Work

Continuing to coordinate with Eversource on a number of outstanding issues in Town including double poles, poles guyed into trees, leaning poles and pole guyed with rope (Merriam Street), Hazard trees at/near power lines, etc.;
National Grid has submitted several permits for repairing long-standing gas leak locations;

National Grid Gas Relay Projects

Proposed work for the 2020 Construction Season. Scheduled meeting with DPW and NGrid on 2/26:

Sherburn Circle;
Concord Road (1-81) - the gas main work at Boston Post Road and Concord Road intersection has been identified to NGrid as a priority and must be completed before the Town Center Roadway Reconstruction begins;
Tyler Road;
292-352 Winter Street;
74-147 Orchard Avenue;
4-54 Orchard Avenue;
Bay State Road;
Indian Hill Road;
Webster Road

DPW employees installing a drainage pipe

Ongoing DPW Projects

Wireless Meter Reading - All contracts are in place (3), permits for collectors in progress, and installation of meters and radios to occur over the next several months, and then activation of the system. Coordination with town accounting hardware is also ongoing (MUNIS). Notices for meter work and scheduling will be going out soon. See Weston.org/WaterMeters for more information;
Newton Street Drainage (by church and Doublet Hill Area) - Town Engineer is working with several properties owners and others to secure easement rights for Phase II and Phase III drainage work;
Merriam Street Drainage work (at/about Westland Road: between Westland and Silver Hill Road) – Still drainage work needed on the Hallet Hill Road portion of Merriam Street. Town Engineering working with Town counsel;
Legacy Trail Project - anticipate work resuming in the spring

Consultant Work Managed by DPW

Overseeing consultant work on Proposed Route 30 Roadway Reconstruction TIP Project - roadway, sidewalk, drainage improvements, intersection improvements, etc. Another meeting with Traffic & Sidewalk Committee onMarch 18 then anticipate being before the Select Board again on March 24 to solicit comments prior to the formal 25% Submission to MassDOT. Project info at weston.org;
Overseeing consultant work on Proposed Route 20 Intersection Improvement TIP Project - (signal at Boston Post Road/Wellesley Street/Boston Post Road By-Pass) - After Select Board approval to submit the 25% plans to MassDOT, the project team, DPW and Town Manager attended another pre-25% meeting with MassDOT's project team to review proposed project. Anticipate submitted the 25% Plans on or before March 3. Project info at weston.org;
Overseeing Merriam Street sidewalk project - project is advancing with anticipated construction this spring / summer. Funding secured for the work; sidewalk project needs to be coordinated with roadway work;
Overseeing consultant design and permitting for Concord Road Culvert replacement which has impacts on the Warren Avenue and Merriam Street culverts - decision matrix tabling being evaluated. Engineering presented findings to Board of Selectmen and the Conservation Commission;
Overseeing consultant design and permitting for Ash Street Sidewalk Project - Design ongoing. Consultant to presented progress prints to Traffic and Sidewalk Committee, but drainage, length of crosswalk and curbing issues/comments from DPW Director need to be resolved. Town Engineer has outreached to MWRA about secure rights / easements to address previously mentioned concerns;
Overseeing consultant design and preparation of specification for Cemetery Tomb Restoration. Draft plans provided and comments provided back to consultant

Engineering

Currently reviewing 5 Stormwater Permits;
Currently issued 60 Stormwater permits which also requires construction inspection;
MS4 Stormwater Permit Annual Report – working on Year 2 requirements (ongoing), Consultant indicated that dry weather screening at outfalls March 4-5. Ongoing work with consultant including updates for the documents, SWMP and the IDDE Continued to work with consultant regarding current status of Town’s responsibilities and the MS4 2-Year 6 requirements; the SWPPP and IDDE and also checking on requirements for the LTPPP for DPW and Transfer Station. Preparation of training session on stormwater or erosion control related topics;
Catch Basin Cleaning – cleaning to start April 2020;
Working with the Town’s Traffic and Sidewalk Committee on several items: Love Lane, Chestnut Street, Sunset Road, Wellesley Street at Route 30 signal, mirrors, stop sign requests, sidewalk requests, crosswalk requests, etc.;
Ongoing Engineering Drainage Designs:
- Hallet Hill at Merriam Street – Finalizing plans for construction. Water Main painted by water division on Merriam Street and Hallet Hill Road. Check location and adjusted on CAD plans where needed. Prepared plan-sketch created showing the proposed flow easement area at 28-32 Hallet Hill Road for the appraiser;
- South Merriam Street – Plans ready for review. Water Division marked out water main;
- Pinecroft at Conant Road – Inspected Conant Road culvert and measured painted water main and added to plan. Draft plans for review with Engineering;
- Newton Street – Surveyor sent the additional survey with the survey work provided in AutoCAD for the Aqueduct area. Newton Street drainage design (Phase 3) to continue;
- Kings Grant Road - Plan preparation and design in progress

1

Prevent Stormwater Pollution

Environmentally-friendly Landscaping Practices

Stormwater pollution is the fastest growing type of water pollution in the state. Any natural or man-made contamination, such as dumped leaves and grass, dog waste or lawn fertilizers, that finds its way into our natural water sources (i.e. streams, ponds, rivers, groundwater) is stormwater pollution. Everyone can do their part to reduce pollutants for clean water and a healthier environment.

Right now is a good time to think about what you can do with your landscaping to help improve ecosystems, environmental practices, and reduce stormwater runoff from your yard. Consider speaking with your landscape company about their lawncare practices that can make your yard more environmentally-friendly.

Consider planting native groundcover plants or grass alternatives, rather than maintaining grass lawns
Use grass clippings and mulched leaves to naturally fertilize lawns and garden beds
adjust mower blades to 2" - 3" tall and keep the blades sharp
don't mow wet grass
If you have to water, water once a week and no more than 1"
Pick up dog waste and properly dispose of it

More lawncare tips are available at: ThinkBlueMassachusetts.org

underground installation of a water main

Water Division

Completed approximately 29 DigSafes;
Performed weekly samples (3), monthly water samples at tanks, and station/tank inspections;
Conducted 1 final read;
Worked on high bill complaints;
Completed the CCR report and sent to MWRA for publishing;
Responded to 1 water quality water call related to water main break the week before

Park and Cemetery Division

1 grave dug with casket interment;
1 cremation internment
Leaf pickup and brush pickup at Linwood Cemetery and other park and cemetery locations;
Cleaned and serviced equipment;

Solid Waste and Recycling Division

Processed 1, 100-yard solid waste dumpster totaling 21.12 tons;
Picked up municipal office recycling – 1,000 lbs;
Picked up Town office and select Town Park solid waste – 1,080 lbs.;
Processed 1 cardboard container – 5.00 tons;
Processed 1 bulky plastic container – 1.62 tons;
Processed 1 metal container – 5.84 tons;
Assisted with the pickup of various donations including clothing, electronics, books and bikes – 1.57 tons;
Assisted with pickup of Weston textiles – 960 lbs;
Organized and maintained order in swap shed;
Cleaned the trailer pit as needed;
Pick up litter and cleaned up around the site as needed;
Packed containers as needed to maximize loads

2

Highway/Stormwater Divisions

Hot patching potholes: Church Street, Newton Street, Linwood Cemetery, Indian Hill;
Respond to Misc. calls for service: 9;
Traffic signage and mailbox and maintenance repairs: Cart Path Road, Possum Road, Doublet Hill, Winter at Route 30;
Set up Detour for: Country Dive and Jericho Road for Water Main Breaks;
Inspect Roadway Conditions: Country Drive, Jericho Road, Linwood Avenue, Indian Hill, Rail Trail, and Old Coach Road;
Inspect Catch Basin / Drainage system / Video: Kings Grant Area for Engineering;
Respond to Flooding calls: Indian Hill Road;
Clean and service equipment: 2/24 and 2/26 exercise diaphragm pump;
DIGSafe Markouts: Linwood at Route 20;
Cooks Pond Pump Station: Operating normally.
Street Sweeping: Boston Post Road, Continue Main Roadways, Old Coach, Lantern, Jericho Road, Viles, Montvale;
Assist Water Division: Country Drive and Jericho Road Water Main Breaks;
Assist Engineering: Move file cabinets to start office transfers;
Assist Conservation Commission: Repair dead end and trail head on Old Coach Road;
Catch Basin Inspection, Sinkhole, Rebuild/Replace, Repave: Kings Grant (whole street);
Yard Man: 2/25 restock aggregate deliveries;
Pave Water Main Trench: 2/25 & 2/26 Country Drive and Jericho Road.

Vehicle Maintenance Division

Performed routine maintenance (fluid services, tires and brakes, exhaust, steering and suspension, exterior trim work and electrical repairs) on 10 school buses, 2 police vehicles, 10 DPW trucks and other equipment, 2 recreation vehicles, and 2 school grounds vehicles, noting that the DPW Vehicle Maintenance Division is responsible for over 127 pieces of rolling stock for the Town;
Performed 3 major repairs on vehicles with Major/Significant maintenance activity: 2 bus recalls, H-37 brakes, R-2 replaced rear brakes and park shoes

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