Representatives from the WMRA presented at last Thursday’s Board of Selectmen’s meeting.
Their purpose was to bring the Selectmen up to date on the construction that is about to commence on Adams Street from Milton Village Squantum Street / St. Agatha’s. They are going to be replacing two water lines that have been in place since early 1900’s. The purpose is to avoid any possibility of a catastrophic failure. The pipes are old, need to be replaced, and the construction will be a nuisance. As one of the representatives stated, “This is heavy, heavy construction. you’ll know we’re there.” There may be some improvement in quality of drinking water but primary objective is future reliability.
There will be 3 and at times 4 construction teams working simultaneously. One crew will work up Adams Street from Milton Village to Hutchinson Field and another from the intersections of Centre Street and Adams Street. There will be police details managing traffic. You may have noted that there is large signage at the intersection of Adams and Centre advising motorists to seek alternate routes beginning March 29th. Adams will always be open to local traffic (i.e. residents who live on that stretch). There will also be a crew in front of St. Agatha’s, a “specialty area” where there is a significant infrastructure that needs to be dug up and replaced. Plates and Jersey barriers will be used as needed to secure the site and make is passable.
The use of multiple crews is to accelerate construction. The company is paid Sy the foot of pipe laid not time so it is in their interests to get it done quickly. The plan now is to have the work completed in one construction season (i.e. between now and November). Then return next season and do the “overlay” work”. Selectman Fagan voiced her hope that would include curb to curb paving. The spokesman noted, “We’ve been told that.”
He also noted, “We are responsive and we will respond to phone calls – to you (the Selectmen) and the community.” He mentioned that they have an office at 4 Franklin street. We were unable to find that but you can find their “Contact page” online here.
This is part of the Southern Spine project: About the Southern Spine Distribution Mains Rehabilitation Project
Two other notes:
- This project will continue next year on the other side of the river in Dorchester from Washington and Adams going up River Street. Though not in Milton it will have an impact on residents who commute through that area
- The reservoir in the Blue Hills is complete and those tanks are servicing both Quincy and Milton. They are finishing off some landscaping and wetlands restoration after which the fences will come down and the area will be open to the public.