Commonwealth Avenue Improvements (Church St. to Laws Brook Rd.)

Town Contact

Justin Richardson

Assistant Town Engineer 978-318-3213 jrichardson@concordma.gov

Town contact for overall project management

Engineering Services during Construction:

The Engineering Corporation (TEC)



CPW's General Contarctor

Newport Construction Corporation

Kevin DiMambro

603-882-1700


Other Contractors for Utility Projects:

Concord Municipal Light Plant (CMLP)

Project: Replacement of street light poles and fixtures 

Contact: 

CMLP Engineering  978-318-3116

     

National Grid

Project: Transfer of gas services to 8-inch main and abandon old 4-inch main

Contact:

Patrick Locke  617-293-9218

 

Project Updates

Meeting Schedule: 

  1. A preconstruction meeting was held on 6/14/2023 at 8:00am and 6/26/2023 at 5:00pm for all area residents and business owners for discussion with the Town and its General Contractor (Newport Construction)

Construction Schedule:

  1. CMLP has completed the remainder of the light pole installation and the reconstruction of the electrical vault in front of #75 Commonwealth Avenue. 
  2. National Grid has completed their work inside the project limits.
  3. Nashoba Brook Bakery construction in the Right of Way (ROW) is completed
  4. 13B Commonwealth Avenue construction in ROW is completed.
  5.  The start of CPW’s portion of the project - road and sidewalk reconstruction was significantly delayed by utility work especially National Grid’s. Additionally, CPW’s General Contractor (Newport Construction) experienced delays and shortages of materials at the end of summer and into fall 2022. Recently identified additional drainage infrastructure needs were constructed prior to the roadway work. This work has been completed. 
    Newport Construction has provided CPW with a revised schedule of work that reflects delays in this project as a result of weather delays, which resulted in scheduling and manpower issues. CPW is working with Newport to try and compress the schedule as much as possible so that the project is completed as efficiently and timely as possible. The schedule is attached hereto.  Newport has completed the binder course of pavement and has completed curbing and sidewalk installation of approximately 330 feet on the southerly side of Commonwealth Avenue. 
    Currently, TEC and CPW believe a solution has been found for a grading issue, which may result in some milling of the binder pavement.  Newport has informed the Town that the sidewalk and curbing work will continue on the southerly side of the street until all the sidewalks and curbing are reconstructed up to the train tracks.  From there, Newport has informed the Town that they will start on the northerly side of the street at Kenny Dunn Square and work their way to the train tracks.  

Pedestrian, Traffic and Access Management:

CPW Engineering will continue to work with contractors performing work to minimize disturbance to the traffic during construction.  However, construction is anticipated to impact some parking spaces and at least one lane of the roadway during certain portions of the construction. Traffic Management Plans prepared by the contractor are reviewed by CPW and CPD before implementation.

During CPW’s Complete Streets Project and road reconstruction, the roadway and street parking will be impacted by the drainage work, the repaving of the roadway and the curbing installation.   Additionally, portions of sidewalk will be temporarily closed because a large portion of the project is the re-construction of the sidewalks. Pedestrian access to all businesses and residences will be maintained throughout construction. 

The Traffic Management Plan for this project has been reviewed by CPW and CPD and is attached here: 

Alternating Traffic Plan                    Detour Plan

Project Overview:

A. Complete Streets Project:

Background information for the Town of Concord Complete Streets Program can be found on the Town’s Website in the link below. 

https://concordma.gov/2454/Complete-Streets-Program

MassDOT’s Complete Streets Tier 3 Construction Award Contract was executed with the Town in 2020. Commonwealth Avenue was one of three projects that the Town received funding for through this program. Below is an existing conditions image of the project area.

Existing Conditions of Improvement Area

           Project Description:

The major items on the Commonwealth Avenue Complete Streets Project includes rebuilding the existing non ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant sidewalks and curbs on both sides of the street from the Railroad crossing to Beharrell Street and Bradford Street, construct two curb bump outs at each crosswalk to improve pedestrian safety and calm traffic, construct a new crosswalk at the intersection of Church Street and Commonwealth Avenue for additional pedestrian access, and implement new pavement markings to provide traffic calming, pedestrian and bicycle safety. This design was performed by The Engineering Corp. (TEC, Inc). See design plan below.

 

Engineering staff presented the preliminary design to the West Concord Advisory Committee and the Commission on Disability and incorporated their feedback into the final design. The construction of the project was put out for bids in the spring of 2022. Engineering staff also presented the project to the Concord Business Partnership so make them aware of the proposed construction. 

 

Engineering has since prepared plans for making additional curb and sidewalk improvements from the limit of the Complete Streets project to the Laws Brook Rd intersection. This additional work is being included in Newport’s contract for construction in 2023. An update on the design and construction schedule was given to the WCAC at their regular meeting on June 7, 2023. The plan for the additional work is attached below:


Project Description
  1. Click for larger image-Concord Complete Streets_Plans 8
  1. Click for larger image-Concord Complete Streets_Plans 9
GE1

Click here for larger image of additional work

B. Road Reconstruction Project:

This project includes improvements to the drainage system followed by full depth reconstruction of the Commonwealth Ave roadway from the railway tracks to the intersection with Laws Brook Rd to address the poor condition of the pavement surface and sidewalks. The pavement will be reclaimed and regraded to improve surface drainage and rideability. A layer of binder pavement with some temporary pavement markings will be installed prior to the start of curb work.   The top layer of pavement will be added towards the end of the overall project and this will be followed by pavement markings.  When CPW is programing road and sidewalk projects, Engineering staff reaches out to utility providers and any known proposed abutting private development to notify them of the future construction and that the roadway would go into CPW’s 5-year Moratorium Street list. Projects listed below resulted from this coordination.  This road project along with other roads in the 2022 Roads Program have been presented to the Public Works Commission and the public via public meetings held during FY2022. 


The paving limits are shown below:

Paving Limits
Picture 3 Light Post


C. Street Light Replacement Project    

CMLP replaced the existing light pole bases and poles along Commonwealth Avenue. The locations of the light poles were essentially in the same locations as they previously existed.  The design of the proposed new light poles is shown adjacent.


D.  National Grid's Gas Upgrades

National Grid through a Grant of Location Request to the Select Board transferred all services mains from their existing 4 inch main to the existing 8 inch main and abandon the 850 feet of the existing 4 inch main in place. The transfer of services mains included the following:

  • tie in 4 inch Coated Steel gas main to 8 inch Coated Steel in the intersection of Laws Brook Rd and Commonwealth Ave with approximately 20 feet' of 4-inch Plastic, 
  • tie in 4 inch Coated Steel gas main to 8-inch Coated Steel at 74 Commonwealth Ave with approximately 5 feet of 4- inch Plastic.
  • tie in 2 inch Coated Steel gas main to 8 inch Coated Steel in the intersection of Commonwealth Av and Bradford St with approximately 30 feet of 2- inch.
  • tie in 2 inch Coated Steel gas main to 8 inch Coated Steel in the intersection of Commonwealth Ave and Beharrell St with approximately 60 feet of 2- inch. 

Preconstruction and neighborhood meetings were held prior to National Grid completing their work in 2022.

See National Grid’s Plan below:

  1. Click for larger image-Street Light Replacement
National Grid Plan

E.  Private Development Work:

Nashoba Brook Bakery had an approved development project with frontage on Commonwealth Avenue in the area of the Town’s Commonwealth Ave Improvement Project.  As part of a private development of Nashoba Brook Bakery, CPW required the applicant to install new water and sewer services to their facility due to the age of the existing services. As part of their Right of Way permit the applicant has submitted a Traffic Management Plan to CPD and CPW. They were also requested to provide abutter notifications to inform local residents and businesses of the proposed construction. This work was completed in 2022.

13B Commonwealth Avenue has an approved development project with frontage on Commonwealth Avenue in the area of the Town’s Commonwealth Ave Improvement Project.  This development will require new and previously approved utility services connecting to existing utilities located in Commonwealth Avenue. CPW requested that the applicant install all utility services prior to the Town’s improvements so as to not cut into the new pavement immediately after it is completed. The utility services were installed in 2022.

 

F.  Municipal Water Main Upgrade

This project included a minor upgrade to the municipal water system/service occurring in the area of #135 Commonwealth Avenue. This work was completed in 2022.