a crystal ball reflecting a road

December 29, 2019 to January 4, 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:

 
dpw seal

2020 Roadway Reconstruction Program - In Development

The Public Works team is developing its FY21 budget, which includes planning the next construction season activities and engineering design and permitting 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 will begin the roadway reconstruction work and utility work sometime in April 2020. Residents can expect another aggressive construction season, which will be managed and balanced with the Town Center Project, as that work moves above-ground, and the start of the Josiah Smith Tavern rehabilitation (overseen by the Facilities Dept.).

Roadways currently under review for the 2020 construction season are the following (some are dependent upon the completion of water, drainage, and gas work):
  • Bogle Street (round 2 of the Rubber Chip Seal program);
  • Conant Road (round 2 of the Rubber Chip Seal program) – Colchester to Brook Road;
  • Ash Street (mill and overlay);
  • Church Street (mill and overlay) – Conant Road to railroad;
  • Kings Grant Road - Spruce Hill Road to cul de sac;
  • Spruce Hill Road - Kings Grant Road to cul de sac;
  • Bay State Road - Spruce Hill Road to end;
  • Indian Hill Road - Kings Grant Road to end;
  • Webster Road - Church Street to Church Street;
  • Buckskin Road - Route 20 to town line;
  • Warren Avenue - Boston Post Road to Gun Club Lane;
  • Arrowhead Road - Bakers Hill Road to Bakers Hill Road;
  • Merriam Street* - Silver Hill Road to Sunset Road;
  • Newton Street - #150 to South Avenue;
  • October Lane - Bakers Hill Road to Conant Road;
  • Spring Lane - Conant Road to end of roadway
*(Remaining) 2019 Roadway Reconstruction Program
Merriam Street (Sunset Road to Silver Hill Road) –  a lot of moving parts remain and  need to be completed prior to the roadway reconstruction taking place. These include
completing the roadway drainage work between Westland Road and house no. 189 +/-, Westland Road and house no. 217, and house no. 245 +/- to Hallet Hill Road;
Merriam Street Culvert Replacement over Cherry Brook; water gate replacements on Merriam Street at Cherry Brook Road (utility pole holding  is required by Eversource); and the sidewalk installation (southerly section between Westland Road and Sunset Road require easements)


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.
  • Businesses are open and parking is available - traffic Management Plans are modified daily to maximize available parking for the businesses;
  • Manhole and conduit work and structure service work installation ongoing

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
  • See updates in "Ongoing DPW Projects" for water/drainage, etc. work at:
    • Newton Street
    • Legacy Trail
  • See updates in "Consultant Work" for larger projects at:
    • Rt. 20 and Rt. 30 TIP projects
    • Ash Street sidewalk
1
underground gas main installation

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

Remaining work from the 2019 Construction Season:
  • Church Street (at/about Pigeon Hill Road) - work completed with the exception of crossing over the MBTA/rail trail; 
  • Wellesley Street (669-654) - anticipated completion Jan. 1;
  • Arrowhead Road - anticipated completion date of Jan. 20
Proposed work for the 2020 Construction Season:
  • Sherburn Circle;
  • Concord Road (1-81) are also gas main replacement projects;
  • Tyler Road;
  • 292-352 Winter Street;
  • 74-147 Orchard Avenue;
  • 4-54 Orchard Avenue;
  • Bay State Road;
  • Indian Hill Road;
  • Webster Road
 
DPW employees installing a drainage pipe

Ongoing DPW Projects

  • Wireless Meter Reading - All contracts are in place (3) and installation of meters and radios to occur over the next several months, and then activation of the system. Coordination with town accounting hardware is also ongoing (MUNIS). Notices for meter work and scheduling will be going out soon. See Weston.org/WaterMeters for more information; 
  • 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; 
  • Merriam Street Drainage work (at/about Westland Road: between Westland and Silver Hill Road) – Still drainage work needed on the Hallet Hill Road portion of Merriam Street.  Town Engineering working with Town counsel;
  • Legacy Trail Project -  construction ongoing;
 
drain installation

Consultant Work Managed by DPW

  • Overseeing consultant work on Proposed Route 30 Roadway Reconstruction TIP Project - roadway, sidewalk, drainage improvements, intersection improvements, etc. A brief summary of the progress to date was provided to the Board of Selectmen on July 30.  Anticipate being before the Board again after the start of the new year to solicit comments prior to the formal 25% Submission to MassDOT. Another Traffic & Sidewalk Committee meeting will be held prior. 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) - a summary of the progress was provided to the Board of Selectmen on July 30 and on September 10 to solicit comments prior to the formal 25% submission to MassDOT. Town Engineer and consultant currently working with neighbors of Winsor Way to potentially modify the Town’s previous preferred alternate. 25% Submission to MassDOT after the new year. Project info at weston.org;
  • Overseeing several sidewalk design projects -  (Merriam Street and Warren Avenue) – Funding secured for the work; culvert replacement and drainage work on Merriam needs to take place; sidewalk project needs to be coordinated with roadway work. Warren Ave on hold;  
  • 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.  Draft plans provided and comments provided back to consultant
 
engineering drawings for stormwater drainage

Engineering

  • Currently reviewing 8 Stormwater Permits;
  • Currently issued 59 Stormwater permits which also requires construction inspection; 
  • MS4 Stormwater Permit Annual Report – working on Year 2 requirements (ongoing);
  • Catch Basin Cleaning – cleaning to start April 2020;
  • 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 – priority for design and plan for 2020;
    • Pinecroft at Conant Road – second drainage project design for 2020, Surveys, plans, and preliminary drainage layout started.  NOI submittal to be prepared;
    • Newton Street – Survey to be started before or after Christmas in aqueduct area; the golf course’s engineer has told the golf course that the section of Newton Street drainage which will be directed towards the aqueduct area will not cause any negative impacts to the golf course – Newton Street drainage design started
1
underground installation of a water main

Water Division

  • Completed approximately 12 DigSafes;
  • Performed weekly samples (3), monthly water samples at tanks, and station/tank inspections;
  • Continued reading meters;
  • Responded to 2 water quality water calls;
  • Assisted Highway Division with snow and ice plowing event
 
snow stake

Park and Cemetery Division

  • Brush cleanup at Linwood Cemetery and other park and cemetery locations;
  • Cleaned and serviced equipment;
  • Assisted Highway Division with plowing
 
recycle more banner

Solid Waste and Recycling Division

  • Processed 2, 100-yard solid waste dumpsters totaling  38.71 tons;
  • Picked up municipal office recycling –480 lbs;
  • Picked up Town office and select Town park solid waste – 1,060 lbs.;
  • Processed 2 cardboard containers – 7.73 tons;
  • Processed 1 glass container – 4.95 tons;
  • Processed 1 bulky plastic container – 2.54 tons;
  • Ran 2 shuttles for brush /logs – 8.42 tons;
  • Assisted with the pickup of various donations including clothing, electronics, books and bikes – 260 lbs;
  • Assisted with pickup of Weston textiles –  960 lbs;
  • Processed 1 rechargeable battery pickup – 80 lbs;
  • Organized and maintained order in swap shed;
  • Cleaned the trailer pit as needed;
  • Pick up litter and cleaned up around the site as needed;
  • Assisted Highway Division with plowing/scraping.
2
snow plow

Highway/Stormwater Divisions

  • Hot patching potholes: 1/2 north section and 1/3 all sections;
  • Respond to Misc. calls for service:  19;
  • Oversee Tree Contractor:  Linwood Cemetery, Coburn, Hilltop, Church, Bogle;
  • Traffic signage and mailbox and maintenance repairs:  Summer, Wellesley, Shady Hill, Old Colony;
  • Inspect miscellaneous tree locations for possible action: Church by Old Road, Summer, Sudbury;
  • Respond to Flooding calls:  Transfer Station through drain gallies, Summer Street, Kendall Common;
  • Check and Clear waterways:  12/27 all sections and 1/2 start division list;
  • Clean and service equipment:  1/2 - 4 large pieces;
  • Cooks Pond Pump Station:  Operating normally;
  • Install and prep plow equipment:  1/3;
  • Deicing operations:  12/29, 12/30 3 times;
  • Deicing (Spot) Operations: Deerpath, 1/2 division list;
  • General Plowing and Sidewalk Plowing:  12/31 sidewalk (12/30 & 31);
  • Assist Grounds Maintenance:  1/2/20 Mosquito Control;
  • Jet Cleaning Drainage (DPW)- Transfer Station Drainage Filed & Trough, Kendal Common;
  • Create Inlet and Outfall List for Division:  Continue north and middle sections
 
maintenance of a DPW truck

Vehicle Maintenance Division

  • Performed routine maintenance (fluid services, tires and brakes, exhaust, steering and suspension, exterior trim work and electrical repairs) on 7 school buses, 1 police vehicle, 14 DPW trucks and other equipment, and 1 recreation vehicle, noting that the DPW Vehicle Maintenance Division is responsible for over 122 pieces of rolling stock for the Town;
  • Performed 6 major repairs on vehicles with Major/Significant maintenance activity:  A-2 exhaust temp sensor, S-10 rear axle, W-2 upper control arms, Bus Inspections, and 2 new bus camera installations;
  • Assisted the Highway Division with Sanding and Plowing operations
 

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