The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority is set to begin a project to replace a water main that runs underneath Route 1 in Saugus.

A public meeting will be held on Thursday evening, March 31, at 7:00 pm at the Saugus Town Hall auditorium.

In December 2010, the construction contract was awarded to Albanese Brothers, Inc. of Dracut. This meeting will provide an opportunity for project neighbors to meet the contractor and ask specific questions about the project, construction schedule and traffic impacts.

In a cost sharing effort with the Town of Saugus, MWRA will also install a 12-inch Saugus water main to replace the old water mains and service connections that provide water supply and fire protection to residents and businesses along Route 1.

The cost of the $5 million project will be shared between the MWRA (72%) and the Town of Saugus (28%).

MWRA and the Town of Saugus have been working closely with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to coordinate their efforts and reduce the impacts to the community and businesses along the route.

Work will begin in April and most of the work will take place in the evening hours between 9:00 pm and 5:00 am Monday evening through Friday morning.  MassDOT will allow MWRA and the contractor one lane closure between the hours of 9:00 pm and 11:00 pm and a two lane closure from 11:00 pm through 5:00 am. Lane closures will not be allowed one day prior to and one day following a holiday.

Work is expected to be completed by Fall 2012.

For more information on this project, contact Jeff McLaughlin,
(617) 660-7976.