August 23 to August 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

The Public Works team is well into its design and permitting work for this season's roadway reconstruction and utility 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 is expecting to begin Round 1 of the roadway reconstruction work and utility work in June 2020.

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

Arrowhead Road - Driveway apron work the week of August 17. Final Pavement Course installation schedule not yet set;
October Lane -Final Pavement Course installation 8/31. Outstanding work will be driveway aprons, installing loam, and hydroseeding. There is also a STOP line to paint;
Kings Grant Road - Spruce Hill Road to cul de sac - Round 3 Paving;
Spruce Hill Road - Kings Grant Road to cul de sac - Round 3 Paving;
Bay State Road - Spruce Hill Road to end - Round 3 Paving;
Indian Hill Road - Kings Grant Road to end - Round 3 Paving;
Webster Road - Church Street to Church Street - Final Pavement Course installation anticipated 9/1. Outstanding work will be driveway aprons, installing loam, and hydroseeding;
Buckskin Road - Route 20 to town line - Round 4 paving;
Warren Avenue - Boston Post Road to Gun Club Lane;
Merriam Street* - Silver Hill Road to Sunset Road - Schedule dependent on Culvert and Sidewalk Contractor completing certain work, then Paving Contractor will be mobilized to reclaim and pave binder. Binder course of pavement will be installed the week of August 14. Driveway apron work the week of August 17. Structures won’t be raised until culvert work is completed and berm locations are laid out;
Newton Street - #150 to South Avenue;
Spring Lane - Conant Road to end of roadway
Bogle Street (rubber chip seal) - Will probably not happen this construction season;
Conant Road (rubber chip seal) – Colchester to Brook Road - Will probably not happen this construction season;

*Merriam Street (Sunset Road to Silver Hill Road) – Expect Merriam St. road closure & detours through August when the existing culvert is removed and the new one is installed. Work will include the water main replacement in the culvert area. The contractor will be responsible for all signage. Work is anticipated to take appx 8 weeks, though is weather dependent.

There are a lot of moving parts that need to be completed prior to the Merriam Street reconstruction taking place, including:

Merriam Street Culvert Replacement over Cherry Brook - Culvert installed and area backfilling. Gas Main work started 8/29 and anticipated to be completed 8/31. Grading ongoing in preparation of binder pavement course installation;
sidewalk installation (southerly section between Westland Road and Sunset Road require easements) - wall work on hold during culvert work;
Merriam Street (Sunset Road to Westland Road) paving – schedule dependent on above

2020 Completed Roads

Ash Street (mill and overlay) - Pavement markings anticipated the week of July 20;
Church Street (mill and overlay) – Pavement markings anticipated the week of July 20
Merriam Street drainage work completed between Westland Road and house no. 189 +/-, Westland Road and house no. 217, and house no. 245 +/- to Hallet Hill Road;

ROAD CUTTING AFTER PAVING MORATORIUM - once paving is completed on any roadway in Weston, a five-year moratorium on pavement cutting is placed on that road. This is done to protect the investment made by taxpayers. A five-year schedule of anticipated roadway reconstruction is available on the DPW's web page under Capital Improvement Projects.

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 and project views.

Ongoing

Work in Town Square, Knox Park, and The Terraces
Curbing and sidewalk work along south side of BPR and anticipate completion by Labor Day
Eversource and Comcast pulling cables between the newly installed manholes in Boston Post Road and are expected back for poles
Businesses are open and parking is available, follow signage;

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

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.

Sherburn Circle and Tyler Road - Need to schedule site walk / layout walk;
Concord Road (1-81) -Gas Main Replacement has ongoing. Gas Main Replacement has ongoing. Jack and Bore (per MBTA – land owner) under the Rail Trail completed. New gas main will be placed in conduit installed under the Rail Trail, gassing up the new main, and then service connections. NGrid is also obligated to complete necessary restoration work (pavement, curbing, grass, etc.);
292-352 Winter Street - Gas Main work started;
74-147 Orchard Avenue (private road) - as Main work completed. NGrid still has restoration requirements on this private roadway;
4-54 Orchard Avenue (private road) - gas company mobilizing a crew to this area in the next couple of weeks

Finished work for 2020:

Wellesley Street (from 654 to 699)
Webster Road
Indian Hill Road
Baystate Road

DPW employees installing a drainage pipe

Ongoing DPW Projects & Consultant Work

Wireless Meter Reading - Permits for collector are in progress. Notices for meter work and scheduling will be going out soon. Coordination with town accounting hardware ongoing (MUNIS). Anticipate antenna poles being delivered week of August 24 and then construction of said pole there after.. See Weston.org/WaterMeters for more project information;
Southside Drainage - Phase III awaiting funding on postponed Town Meeting
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;
Legacy Trail Project - work resumed;
Overseeing consultant work on Proposed Route 30 Roadway Reconstruction TIP Project - roadway, sidewalk, drainage improvements, intersection improvements, etc. Another meeting with Traffic & Sidewalk Committee held Aug. 19 & then anticipate being before the Select Board in September 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) - 25% Plans submitted to MassDOT on March 16, 2020. Awaiting review comments, then a MassDOT Pubic Hearing anticipated for October/November 2020. Project info at weston.org;
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. Anticipate advertising plans and specs. for August bid opening in anticipation of September Town Meeting vote using CPC funding to conduct the work

Engineering

Currently reviewing 15 Stormwater Permits;
Currently issued 51 Stormwater permits which also requires construction inspection;
MS4 Stormwater Permit Annual Report –
- Annual Report Year 2 provided by EPA due in September 2020;
- Addressing MS4 Year 2 requirements including: Updating minimum Control Measures that are required for MS4-Year 2 and Year 3;
- Working on the template for the SWPPP for the DPW Building and the Transfer Station;
- Completed IDDE training for Year 2.
- The engineering consultant is working on the development of the written Phosphorus Plan (PCP) Phase 1;
- MS4 educational outreach material and messages have been posted on the Town website and Town social media messages in addition to the weekly news letters and other Town Mailings.
- Charles River Watershed Collaborative communities report show good response to the MS4 Education outreach material and messages have been posted on the Town website, etc.
Catch Basin Cleaning – ongoing;
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 – Plans completed; Borings to be done on Merriam Street to determine depth to ledge in the areas of the drainage system before construction; consultant is finalizing easement plan for Hallet Hill so appraisal can be finalized;
- Newton Street – Newton Street drainage design and plans complete; survey working on easement plan; NOI has been submitted for the Newton Street (MWRA) section of the proposed drainage;
- Kings Grant Road – Plans complete with possible minor updates in the field; test pits to be excavated to determine the soil conditions;
- Pinecroft at Conant Road – Design and plan prep. plans completed;
- Rolling Lane – Design and plan preparation to be completed;
- 520 Glen Road – Wetland delineation completed and report submitted; survey complete; NOI submitted

1

why yard waste is a problem for local waterways

Water Division

Completed approximately 58 DigSafes;
Performed weekly samples (3), monthly water samples at tanks, and station/tank inspections;
Conducted 5 final reads;
Inspected 1 new meter pit installation and turned water on;
Flushed and pressure tested 1 new section of water main on Merriam Street in relation to culvert replacement project expedited by Engineering Division;
Responded to 1 low pressure call and changed out meter

Park and Cemetery Division

1 cremation interment;
Mowed and string trimmed around Linwood Cemetery, Town Hall, Fire Station HQ, Central Cemetery, DPW and Police Station;
Assisted at Transfer Station;
Watered trees and shrubs;
Pruned shrubs at Route 20 and School Street

Solid Waste and Recycling Division

Processed 1, 100-yard solid waste dumpster totaling 26.28 tons;
Picked up municipal office recycling – 440 lbs;
Picked up Town office solid waste – 860 lbs.;
Processed 1 cardboard container – 4.54 tons;
Processed 1 bulky plastic container – 2.17 tons;
Ran 1 shuttle for grass/leaves – 8.02 tons;
Ran 2 shuttles for brush /logs – 15.15 tons;
Processed 1 metal container – 2.83 tons;
Process 1 container of scrap wood – 4.31 tons;
Assisted with the pickup of various donations including clothing, electronics, books and bikes – 3,120 lbs;
Assisted with pickup of Weston textiles – 1,560lbs;
Processed 5 cent deposit bottles and cans – 1,660 tons;
Cleaned the trailer pit as needed;
Pick up litter and cleaned up around the site as needed;
Packed containers as needed to maximize loads;
Disinfected Solid Waste and Recycling areas daily;
Mowed around the Transfer Station;
Held Household Hazardous Waste Day on 8/29 at DPW Facility, which is the makeup for the April 2020 Day that was postponed

2

Highway/Stormwater Divisions

General:

COVID-19: Personnel and Equipment SOPs;
Respond to Misc. calls for Service – 17;
Traffic Detours Setup & Removals: Merriam, Arrowhead;
Cooks Pond Pump Station (drainage): 8/21, 24 pump operating normally; 8/27 restart pump;
DIGSafe Markouts & Permits Requested: 7 Kings Grant Areas;
Cleaning and Servicing Equipment: Clean Storage Garage for Haz. Waste Day;

Outside of Division:

Assist Park/Cemetery/Transfer Station Division: Prep traffic controls and sweep DPW yard and storage garage for Household Hazardous Waste collectcion;
Assist Fleet Maintenance: Supplies for Antenna Pole cradling on S-4;
Assist Paving Contractor (Lazaro) – Arrowhead, October, Merriam and Webster;
Sweep Webster milled area, repair driveway aprons 11 and 13;
Assist with/or Applying Pavement Markings: Wellesley Street;
Assist MassDOT: Flail mowing South and River, River and Loring;
Assist VMP Contractor: 8/27, 28 spray limit markouts;

Highway

Inspect Roadway Conditions: Water test apron repairs- 38 and 42 Brook Street;
Sign and Mailbox Repairs and Installations and fence repairs: School Street;
Pavement Markings (temp) applied and/or removed: Merriam;
Pothole Patching and Trench Patching: 8/27 & 8/28 Patching all sections;
Wall Inspections and/or Repairs: Carroll Circle pressure wash graffiti;
Mowing and trimming Islands and Grass Strips: All sections;
Flail Mowing: River, South, Summer;
Inspect Tree Locations: Linden, North east of Viles, and Conant;
Tree and/or Branch Removals and Debris Cleanup: Route 30, Hubbard, Sylvan, Oak, River, North;

Stormwater:

DMH/CB Inspections & Roadway ID Markings: Davenport @ Chestnut, Oxbow;
Street Sweeping: Webster, Wellesley;
Check and Clear Waterways: 8/23, 25 all from Division list;
Respond flooding calls: 8/23 Summer, River

Vehicle Maintenance Division

Performed routine maintenance (fluid services, tires and brakes, exhaust, steering and suspension, exterior trim work and electrical repairs) on 8 school buses, 3 police vehicles, and 8 DPW trucks and other equipment, noting that the DPW Vehicle Maintenance Division is responsible for over 127 pieces of rolling stock for the Town;
Performed 2 major repairs on vehicles with Major/Significant maintenance activity: H-22 replace radiator, H-23 electrical repair;
Fuel island, weekly inspection performed;
Division Projects: Wash all facility exterior garage doors in and out;
Vehicle Maintenance assisted Cemetery Division and Highway Division on cemetery and highway projects

Want more?

Don't miss another weekly update.
Easily subscribe today at www.weston.org/list.aspx

Comments/Suggestions: contact webmaster@westonma.gov