July 25 to July 31, 2021

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:

2021 Roadway Reconstruction Program

The following roads are expected to be worked on this construction season. Also note the gas main work being completed by National Grid in the utility work section below:

Ash Street - TBD, as sidewalk did not pass Town Meeting
Kings Grant Road after drainage work is complete
Newton Street - pending current drainage work
Spring Road - Anticipate starting beginning of August
Wellesley Street (milling)
Ridgeway Road (milling)
Linden Circle
Stonecroft Road
Winter Street (section)
Hallett Hill Road
Bittersweet Road - Anticipate starting beginning of August
Hickory Road (gas work underway)
Briar Lane
Stony Brook Road
Old Colony Road - complete gas work first
Ferndale Road - complete gas work first
Columbine Road - complete gas work first
Dean Road - complete gas work first
Chiltern Road
Lantern Road - Anticipate starting beginning of August
Old Coach Road - Anticipate starting beginning of August
Longmeadow Road (water main replacement ongoing)
Walnut Street (section)

Completed Work

Crack sealing program for 2021
Spruce Hill Road
Bay State Road
Buckskin Road & Whispering Lane - landscaping work ongoing. Hydroseeding and pavement marking next

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

The overhead lines are gone and the last pole has been removed. The DPW Director is working with the utility companies to improve the look of some of the interfaces and approaches.

The bench installation continues within the new parks and the irrigation system is running, awaiting final inspection. All site furnishings should be finalized by mid-August, as well as hydro-seeding grass areas.

Curbing and sidewalk work continues, particularly in the 450-470 Boston Post Road block, which is anticipated to be completed by mid-August.

Final paving is anticipated by early September. This is weather and utility company dependent. Once that is complete, pavement marking and final signage will be installed.

Tentative Schedule for balance of work:

8/2 - 8/10: Finish curbing and sidewalk work with exception of tight tank in Center Street area, form and pour 505 BPR stairs, loam work, hydroseeding, shim BPR by Walgreens area, Pave driveways at 505 & 450 BPR, install water fountain, set site furnishings, etc.

8/18-9/2: raise all frames and grates (Eversource and Verizon dependent), mill locations in preparation for final paving, etc.

After Labor Day: Final paving at night with exception of tight tank area on Center Street, striping and signage completion, etc.

Traffic Management Plans are modified daily to maximize available parking for the businesses.

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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:

Church Street – (at/about Pigeon Hill Road) Work completed with the exception of the crossing over the MBTA/Rail Trail - Draft of revised proposal of bridge crossing provided to DPW for review and comments
Hickory Road - replacement ongoing, anticipate August completion
Old Colony Road - anticipate work starting in August
Ferndale Road - anticipate work starting in August
Columbine Road - anticipate work starting in August
Winter Street (Brown to MassPike) - proposed
Wellesley Street (649 to Sylvan Lane) - anticipated gas main replacement
Myles Standish Road - anticipate July completion
Plymouth Road - anticipate July completion
Hancock Road - anticipate work starting in August

Completed Gas Relays

420 - 428 North Avenue
Briar Lane
292-352 Winter Street
Sherburn Circle and Tyler Road
Chiltern Road
Bittersweet Lane

MBTA Bridge Replacement Project – Intervale Road

A major construction activity will be performed to install new bridge foundations at track level. Work hours will be 24-hours-per-day, 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM. Intervale Road is closed until August 31st (based on recent upldate from MBTA). A signed detour route will be in place and a map can be viewed on the MBTA project website.

Merriam Street Bridge over the MBTA

MassDOT lowered the bridge carrying capacity of the bridge from 6 tons to 3 tons due to deficient superstructure elements. Weston was made aware of this change on June 11 and Town Officials are in talks with MassDOT regarding options to increase the carrying capacity of this bridge in the short term as well as what the long term options will be for this structurally-deficient bridge.

Eversource Utility Pole and Infrastructure Upgrades on 117/North Ave

The Town is awaiting an updated schedule from Eversource.

MWRA Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program

Through the Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program (Tunnel Program), MWRA will construct two new water supply tunnels (approximately 14 miles) that will provide redundancy for MWRA's existing Metropolitan Tunnel System. The Tunnel Program will also allow the aging existing water tunnel system to be rehabilitated without interrupting service. The Tunnel Program is in the preliminary design and environmental review stage. Final design will begin after preliminary design is complete, with tunnel construction planned to occur from approximately 2027 through 2038.

It is anticipated that up to 12 shaft sites will be constructed for deep rock tunnel boring and to connect to the existing surface water distribution system. The project may result in the new alteration of up to 11 acres of land. Additional impacts will be disclosed in the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR). Weston's Director of Public Works is a member of the working group for this project. Background information and additional project details can be found on the MWRA's project website. Meeting materials and presentations are posted to the project website, as well.

MassDOT Newton/Weston Bridge Rehabilitation Project

The proposed project consists of the replacement of MassDOT-owned bridge to address the condition of the existing structure. The replacement bridge will remain within the footprint of the existing structure. In response to recommendations provided from the 2011 CTPS report for “Low-Cost Improvements to Bottleneck Locations,” this project also proposes to apply operational improvements to I-95 NB through the relocation of interstate access from the current Route 30 eastbound (EB) on-ramp to the Collector Distributor (CD) Road to I-95 NB via modifications to the current Route 30 WB to I-95 NB ramp. The eastern project limits will also include the reconfiguration of the Auburn Street intersection to support the phased reconstruction of bridge and improve access and safety for all modes. The project will also provide pedestrian and bicycle accommodations within the project limits to improve connectivity and access. Multimodal accommodations consisting of accessible pedestrian facilities, separated bike lanes, and a shared use path have been provided in accordance with applicable design guides. Project information is available through MassDOT.

An online public hearing is scheduled for August 11 at 6pm to review the proposed design. Register in advance.

DPW employees installing a drainage pipe

Ongoing DPW Projects &
Consultant Work

Drainage and Culvert

Southside Drainage – Phase III – Anticipate a neighborhood kick off letter going out over the next few days prior to the NOI being filed with the Conservation Commission;
Newton Street Drainage (by church and Doublet Hill Area) - Work ongoing and is weather dependent. Anticipate drainage work through August;
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 Select Board and the Conservation Commission

State TIP

(Overseeing consultant work on)

Proposed Route 30 Roadway Reconstruction TIP Project (roadway, sidewalk, drainage improvements, intersection improvements, etc.) - approval of 25% plan submission was approved by the Board at a September 24, 2020 meeting. Formal 25% Submission to MassDOT October 2020. Anticipate MassDOT/Consultant Comment Review meeting occurring end of May. Project info at weston.org;
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 will be scheduled. Project info at weston.org;

Sidewalk and Crosswalk

Warren Avenue – Funding secured for the work; culvert replacement and drainage work needs to take place; sidewalk project needs to be coordinated with roadway work. Warren Avenue sidewalk project has been shelved due to varying opinions on the design of the sidewalk and placement;
Wellesley Street (from Chestnut Street to Route 30) – Rehabilitation project. Anticipate this summer.
Highland Street – Rehabilitation project including the addition of two crosswalks at Highland Meadows. Anticipate this summer

Additional

Wireless Meter Reading - See WestonMA.gov/WaterMeters for more project information. Watch for postal communications from DPW:
- Collector Antenna at Cat Rock and Doublet Hill water tanks are installed and operational;
- All DC Repeaters: Installed and Operating
- Resident Notices for Meter Upgrades - First letters send out for cycle #1 (north section of town);
- GPS coordinates collected on all current infrastructure installations;
- Three remaining Collector Antenna sites prepped for installations;
- Meter Upgrades at DPW completed and operating on new system’
- Meter Upgrades & Installs: Contractor reports that scheduling is going well.
Paines Hill Tank Replacement Design – Consultant contract not executing pending review of land and zoning issue with Town Counsel and Working Group set up by the Town Manager and Select Board
Longmeadow Water Main Replacement – Working ongoing; new water service taps and curbstops which are anticipated to begin early August
Brook Road / Valley View Water Main Replacement – Anticipate starting project early to mid-August

engineering drawings for stormwater drainage

Engineering Division

Currently reviewing 14 Stormwater Permits;
Issued 56 Stormwater permits
Approved 34 projects currently under construction;
MS4 Stormwater Permit Annual Report –
- Mass NPDES MS4 Permit has been updated with final revisions on 1/6/21. Weston continues working to be in compliance with the MS4 Permit.
- The Town’s consultant providing updates on the Phosphorus Control Plan (PCP) for the MS4 Permit.
- Rain Barrel Program completed. One resident still needs to pick up 2 barrels.
- Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPP) for the DPW Building and the Transfer Station are being prepared in Year-3 of the MS4 Permit (FY 2021)
Educational outreach information and messages regarding stormwater quality continues to be posted on the importance of keeping stormwater clean and pollution; posted on the Town web pages and throughout Town social media
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.;
Participating as a partner in the Charles River Watershed Association (CWRA) Watershed Modeling Project;
Engineering Drainage Designs Ongoing / Construction Bid Documents advertised:
- Hallett Hill at Merriam Street – Construction is planned for 2021 pending drainage easement;
- Pinecroft at Conant Road – The project is ready for construction in 2021;
- Rolling Lane – Final drainage design and plan preparation in progress;
- 520 Glen Road – Met with residents and Conservation Commission on 6/28/21 regarding drainage outfall location

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Water Division

Completed approximately 41 DigSafes;
Performed weekly samples (3), monthly water samples at tanks, and station/tank inspections;
Conducted 7 final reads;
Continued Meter Reading;
Oversaw the rewiring and new light installation of Cat Rock Water Tank Pit;
Inspected 3 new water services;
Witnessed the pressure testing and water sampling of the new water main installation on Longmeadow Road;

Park and Cemetery Division

1 cremation interment;
Mowed Linwood Cemetery, Central Cemetery, Fiske House, Fiske Park, and Farmers Cemetery;
Washed trucks and serviced equipment;
Pruned shrubs at Town Hall;
Nature provided the water for trees and plantings

Solid Waste and Recycling Division

Processed 2, 100-yard solid waste dumpsters totaling 29.50 tons;
Picked up municipal office recycling – 260 lbs;
Picked up Town office and select town park solid waste – 960 lbs.;
Processed 1 cardboard container – 4.75 tons;
Processed 1 metal container – 4.86 tons;
Assisted with the pickup of various donations including clothing, electronics, books and bikes – 0.72 tons;
Assisted with pickup of Weston textiles – 1,600 lbs;
Processed 1 rechargeable battery pickup – 80 lbs;
Processed pickup of light bulbs – 960 lbs;
Swap Shed temporarily CLOSED;
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;
Seasonal cleanup around the Transfer Station;
Food Composting – 920 lbs.
Bulky Waste Collection started May 1st – See WestonMA.gov/BulkyWaste for details
Pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) coming October 2021 - See WestonMA.gov/PAYT

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Highway/Stormwater Divisions

General:

COVID-19: Personnel and Equipment SOPs;
Traffic Detours Setup & Removals: 7/27 Highland Street;
Cooks Pond Pump Station (drainage): Pump operating normally;
Cleaning and Servicing Equipment: As needed;

Outside of Division:

Assist Hydroseeding Contractor: 7/26 Spruce Hill and Bay State;
Assist Loaming Crew: 7/26 and 7/27

Highway:

Inspect Roadway Conditions: Various locations;
Screen and Remove waste gravel material from Upper Yard;
Sign and Mailbox Repairs and Installations and fence repairs: Sign repairs and install various locations. Install sign post anchors at Gun Club Lane;
Assist Stormwater Division – Drainage repair on Spring Road;
Remove debris from roadway: Tree debris;
Pothole Patching and Trench Patching: Pothole Patching on Irving Road;
Mowing and trimming Islands and Grass Strips: 7/26, 7/27 working on division list;
Flail Mowing: 7/27 and 7/28 south section of Town, South Avenue, Pine Street;
Tree and/or Branch Removals and Debris Cleanup: 7/27-29
Loam and Seed: Buckskin Drive

Stormwater:

Drain Line/Pipe Repairs: Drain repair Spring Road;
DMH/CB Inspections & Roadway ID Markings: Catch Basin Inspection;
Assist Highway Division: Pickup downed limbs;
Check and Clear Waterways: 7/28-29;
Jet Cleaning Drainage (DPW): 7/27 on Newton Street

Vehicle Maintenance Division

Performed routine maintenance (fluid services, tires and brakes, exhaust, steering and suspension, exterior trim work and electrical repairs) on the following, noting that this Division is responsible for over 131 rolling stock for the Town:
- 1 police vehicle
- 12 DPW trucks and other equipment
- 2 school grounds vehicles
Performed 3 major repairs on vehicles with Major/Significant maintenance activity: W-3 replace both rocker panels, 1222 replace damaged exhaust, T-21 replace damaged hydraulic fitting;
Fuel island, weekly inspection performed

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