Progress Update on Middlesex Ave - Lubber's Brook Culvert Replacement Project
Work continues on the highly anticipated planned replacement of a structurally deficient large-scale drainage culvert on Middlesex Ave (Route 62) over Lubber's Brook in North Wilmington. This challenging project has many dimensions, including environmental planning, structural engineering and construction, groundwater challenges, and associated utility work. It is not simply a replacement of a small scale drainage pipe. Below is a general overview of work completed on the project thus far. Check back often for updates as the project progresses. Questions regarding the project can be directed to the DPW's Engineering Division at 978-658-4499
Work Expected Beginning Week of June 19, 2023
Thursday June 22: The remaining sidewalks are to be installed in the vacinity of the Lubbers Brook Culvert.
Friday June 23: Final Paving over the culvert - the contractor will be paving one lane at a time to maintain at least one lane of traffic through the work zone.
Monday June 26: Final striping / site cleanup and demobilization.
Work Expected Beginning Week of May 22, 2023
* The contractor will remobilize and is expected to finish the drainage, sidewalk work and trench repair/patching over the culvert (prep for final coat of pavement) by June 15. The finish coat of pavement (over the culvert) is scheduled end of June/early July.
Work Completed During Weeks of November 21st 2022 through April 30, 2023
Work Completed During Weeks of November 7th and 14th, 2022
Work Completed During Week of October 31, 2022
Work Completed During Week of October 17, 2022
Work Completed During Week of October 10, 2022
Work Completed During Week of October 3, 2022
Work Completed During Week of September 26, 2022
Work Completed During Week of September 19, 2022
* Verizon completed duct bank reinstallation
Work Completed During Week of September 12, 2022
* Drainage infrastructure currently being installed along south side (soft shoulder) of roadway
* Test pits for tree wells being conducted
Note: Sidewalk sub-base preparation anticpated next week, as well as commencement of water main installation. Fine grading and paving operations for traveled way are scheduled to begin the week of September 26, 2022, with binder pavement tentatively scheduled for October 3, 2022.
Work Completed During Week of September 5, 2022:
* Shoulder Work continues (outside of travel lanes)
* North headwall work continues
Work Completed During Week of August 29, 2022:
* Shoulder Work continues (outside of travel lanes)
* Streambed restoration and backfill operations ongoing
Work Completed During Week of August 22, 2022:
* Culvert backfilling underway
* North and south concrete wing-walls poured
* Roadway base getting graded and compacted
Work Completed During Week of August 15, 2022:
* Culvert headwalls being formed
* Structural reinforcing steel getting tied in
* Incidental work related to supporting headwall structures in full swing
Work Completed During Week of August 8, 2022:
* Verizon working to raise duct bank communication lines
* Stream bed / culvert open bottom channel restoration begun
* Culvert section installed by crane
Work Completed During Week of August 1, 2022:
* Set the culvert footing forms on top of the stone and geotextile fabric
* Installed reinforcing steel to the footing forms
* Installed sewer utility within work zone
Work Completed During Week of July 25, 2022:
* Strapped up the Verizon communication utility duct bank so that it is completely supported and independent during the project.
* Completely removed both headwalls and the existing culverts. Note the advanced corrosion on the existing metal culverts. The planned replacement of these units was justified given their poor structural condition.
* Completed major dewatering operations. A second Frac tank has been brought to the site to help dewatering efforts. Despite drought conditions, area groundwater levels appear relatively high, making dewatering a major construction constraint. Efforts to control groundwater have been largely successful thus far.
* Excavated the road completely, almost down to footing grade. This is a very large area given the skewed orientation of the existing culvert.
* Assembly of the modular culvert has resumed off to the side of the construction site. Currently there are two fully assembled 18’ sections (2/5 of the entire culvert).
* The contractor worked Saturday 7/30/22 in an attempt to get ahead of schedule. Excavation continued, getting down to the bottom of stone grade and installing the sewer main.
* The Town’s engineering consultant for the project, TEC Corporation, made regular inspections, ensuring work was progressing as planned.
Work Completed During Week of July 18, 2022:
* The contractor finished installing the dewatering pump system
* The contractor installed the temporary support bridge for the Verizon communication utility duct bank. This structural unit allows the Verizon’s underground communication main to continue to function during this project.
* The contractor hoe-rammed out the south headwall and began hoe-ramming the north headwall
* Dewatering operations have begun, utilizing the large on site Frac tank
* Modular culvert materials and hardware have been delivered to the site, as well as the sewer utility pipes and fittings
* The culvert manufacturer onsite on Thursday to review the assembly procedure with the contractor. A 20’ section was assembled in the adjacent parking lot
* The town’s engineering consultant for the project, TEC Corporation, reviewed planned traffic and detour patterns, and made minor adjustments to traffic signal timing and signage to help with traffic patterns and queuing. The Wilmington Department of Public Works and Wilmington Public Safety worked cooperatively to adjust and fabricate additional signage to help with this effort.