Look Ahead
The Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program is currently in the design stage. Within the MWRA, the Program is being managed by the Tunnel Redundancy Department. MWRA has procured initial consultant contracts for Program Support Services, Preliminary Engineering, and Geotechnical Support Services. A Final Design Engineering consultant will be contracted om late 2024 to begin detailed design of both tunnel systems.
It is expected that the next several years will include a number of Program wide activities including risk management planning, quality management planning, design criteria and standardization, project controls, construction package planning, field investigation procedures, critical path scheduling and budget planning.
City of Newton City Engineer and MWRA Board of Directors
Member Louis M. Taverna visits MWTP test boring/rock
coring site in Newton, Massachusetts, July, 2021
The Preliminary Design Phase of the Tunnel Program involved significant efforts on geotechnical investigations, preliminary route and shaft site alternative evaluations, preliminary design, an assessment of environmental permits needed and preparation of the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) review for the Program. That phase of the Program began actual design. Preliminary design was completed at the end of 2023. Final design will follow soon after preliminary design with the first tunnel construction package issued in or around 2027.
