Construction Begins on Project to Replace 100 Year-old Sewer

Construction began on Monday, May 16, 2005 on the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority’s Upper Neponset Valley Relief Sewer project.
The Upper Neponset Valley Sewer was constructed between 1896 an 1902. It is four miles long and runs through West Roxbury and Newton. The sewer receives wastewater from Brookline, Newton, West Roxbury and a small section of Dedham.

This 100-year old sewer is hydraulically deficient, resulting in frequent community system back-ups and interceptor overflows during wet weather to homes and the Charles River. This project will increase the hydraulic capacity in the Upper Neponset Valley Sewer by 8 million gallons per day through the construction of replacement sewers and will reduce chronic wastewater overflows and surcharging during wet weather and improve service and water quality.

In March, the construction contract was awarded to P. Gioioso & Sons, Inc. of Hyde Park. The $36 million sewer project includes 2.3 miles of new sewer lines running under VFW Parkway in West Roxbury from Claire Motors to Corey Street. Additional work in West Roxbury will take place on LaGrange, Gardner and Baker Streets, and in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.

According to MWRA’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Charles Button, “MWRA is working with the Department of Conservation and Recreation to protect the environmental integrity of the VFW Parkway, especially the 550 trees that run along either side and in the grassed median.” He added that construction along the parkway will take place at night to prevent daytime traffic tie-ups. “MWRA requires the construction contractor to use the best available technology to control noise and vibration levels, and trenchless construction methods will be used at two major intersections along the route,” said Button.

Several public meetings have been held on this project over the last few years, the most recent, on May 11, 2005, provided an opportunity for project neighbors to meet the contractor and ask specific questions about the project and the construction schedule. MWRA staff will also attend the West Roxbury Neighborhood Association meeting on May 24, 2005.

For more information on this project, contact Jeff McLaughlin at (617) 788-1170 or <jeffrey.mclaughlin@mwra.state.ma.us>.

For a presentation about the project (PDF) click here.