Muddy River Flood Risk Management & Environmental Restoration Project
Phase 1 Construction Activities Next 90 Days
March 2014
General: The Muddy River Flood Risk Management & Environmental Restoration Phase 1 Construction Project is located in the footprint generally between the Riverway downstream to Avenue Louis Pasteur. The major project components involve the installation of a 10‐foot by 24‐foot box culvert under the Riverway roadway, the installation of 10‐foot by 24‐foot box culvert under the Brookline Avenue roadway, daylighting of the area between the Riverway and Brookline Avenue, and daylighting of the area between Brookline Avenue and Avenue Louis Pasteur. Daylighting is the removal of existing twin 72″ culverts and excavation of the area to return the waterway to a natural state. This Notice is intended to identify the general construction activities that will be performed in the next 90 days. A figure that shows the existing conditions and the proposed improvements is at the end of this report.
March 2014 through May 2014 Period:
- On 28 September we installed traffic islands, temporary traffic signals, activated recently installed signals and installed a significant number of traffic signs that allowed us to turn Brookline Avenue into a one‐way street inbound between the Riverway Connector and ParkDrive. This was done so that we could continue the installation of support shafts and culvert sections under Brookline Avenue outbound and one of the inbound lanes. We have installed as many culvert sections that we can under the current traffic scheme so an additional traffic modification is needed.
- The next traffic modification for the third stage of construction of the Brookline Avenue culvert will require
relocating the four Brookline Avenue inbound lanes to the left over the area where culvert installation has been completed. As in the last traffic lane shift we will do the traffic change on a Saturday to minimize impact to the neighborhood traffic. The next traffic shift is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, 29 March 2014. The current traffic pattern in place can be seen in the first traffic pattern figure shown below. The traffic pattern that will be implemented in the third stage can also be seen on the traffic pattern below this notice. This shift was actually scheduled for earlier in the month but the snow storms and bitter cold have impacted the schedule. We will send out a press release to the media and a notice to our mailing list with the firm date of the traffic change as soon as we can establish the date. - The contractor is nearly completed the relocation of a 48 inch water main under Brookline Avenue. The 12‐inch water main relocation has been completed. In March the contractor will complete the welding of joints on the waterline, tape and test welded joints, backfill over the waterline, cement line and chlorinate the water lines. There has been no disruption of water service to the neighborhood during this relocation operation.
- Prior to the traffic shift the contractor will pave and stripe new roadway lanes and install signs so that all of this will be in place for the traffic shift.
- After the traffic shift, the contractor will install sheet pilings, excavate within the sheeting to get to the proper grade, install additional drilled shafts, perform required utility relocations, place pile caps and invert slabs (the culvert floor) and install additional culvert sections. The sheet piles will be vibrated into place so nearby neighbors may feel some vibrations although they will be minor. The contractor will be monitoring vibration levels and we have a set protocol in place related to actions that need to place if vibration levels reach a pre‐established level. Our monitoring indicates that the vibrations from the installation of sheet piles is not any larger than vibrations caused by passing truck traffic.
- During this next phase the contractor will also start construction of a diversion structure that will be used to divert storm water flow from two large storm drains into the Muddy River conduits. These storm drains currently run down Brookline Avenue and eventually empty into the Charles River. However, they will not fit over the culverts that are being installed without major roadway modifications. The diversion structure will allow the storm water flow to empty into the new Brookline Avenue culvert.
- If you any questions, require additional information or would like to be added to the Project Contact List, please email the project mailbox at MuddyRiver@usace.army.mil
Traffic Patterns
The next traffic modification for the third stage of construction of the Brookline Avenue culvert will require relocating the four Brookline Avenue inbound lanes to the left over the area where culvert installation has been completed. As in the last traffic lane shift we will do the traffic change on a Saturday to minimize impact to the neighborhood traffic. The next traffic shift is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, 29 March 2014. The current traffic pattern in place can be seen in the first traffic pattern figure shown below. The traffic pattern that will be implemented in the third stage can also be seen on the traffic pattern below this notice. This shift was actually scheduled for earlier in the month but the snow storms and bitter cold have impacted the schedule. We will send out a press release to the media and a notice to our mailing list with the firm date of the traffic change as soon as we can establish the date.
Project Phase 1
(U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photos)
Muddy River rises March 14, 2010
(U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photos)
