Water main improvements close streets to through traffic

Date: 8/23/2011

Aug. 22, 2011

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

LONGMEADOW — Much-needed improvements to the town’s water mains are now being made on Primrose Drive, Bernie Road and Mayfair Drive.

On Aug. 17, Jack Goncalves & Sons Construction Company began a project to replace water mains serving residents on those roadways.

“This has been part of our capital plan for about three years,” Michael Wrabel, director of the Department of Public Works, said.

The town voted unanimously to approve the use of a combined $384,200 for the project through articles 12 and 13 at the Annual Town Meeting on May 10.

Wrabel said that all of the piping that is being replaced has been part of the town’s infrastructure for at least 60 years. Primrose Drive will be the first area worked on. That section has the newer pipes, but it has had its share of problems.

“Primrose was built in the 1950s,” Wrabel said. “We’ve had some breakage problems going back two or three years. It’s older pipe that is being replaced with ductile iron.”

After laying the pipe, a series of tests need to be run, including analysis of the water to ensure it is safe for human consumption. After testing is complete, the main will be connected to homes and fire hydrants.

Once the Primrose project is complete, Bernie Road will undergo similar construction to replace much older pipes than the ones that lay beneath Primrose Drive.

“Those pipes are much older. Off the top of my head, I think they date back to the 30s,” Wrabel said.

The older pipes, which are made of old cast iron, are four inches in diameter, half the size of the town standard. In addition to that, the pipes have a serious complication associated with them that make their replacement essential

“It’s called tuberculation. A lot like how barnacles attach to the ocean floor, the inside of the pipe actually gets smaller with this growth that accumulates,” Wrabel said. “Residents won’t see a difference in pressure, but there will be an improvement in the volume, which is especially important for fire protection. If you have a fire hydrant putting out 100 gallons a minute with a fire truck capable of pumping out 500 gallons per minute, that’s not a good scenario.”

After Bernie Road is completed, Mayfair Drive, which has a similar problem as Bernie Road, will be serviced. Each road project will require three to four weeks to complete.

While the three streets will be closed to through traffic during this project, they will be accessible to residents. Wrabel also said the mail and garbage services will have access to the streets.

Interruption in water service should be minimal, he added, and any planned shutoffs will be preceded by one day’s notice.

“Whenever we have a planned shut off, we will also make sure that people have a chance to take a shower and do what they have to do to get ready for work and shut the water off later,” Wrabel said.