City of Cambridge, MA, Department of Public Works Program
The City of Cambridge Department of Public Works program includes more than $90 million worth of area-wide reconstruction and separation of combined sewers, replacement of water mains, substantial gas main relocation, nearly 200 sites of private property work for inflow removal, and system wide verification of illicit removal from the storm drain infrastructure. MWH is leading three of the four active construction projects within the program. Our teams work side by side with the design staff to resolve construction issues at a pace that keeps up with the demands of each contractor’s schedule.
- The work also includes full reconstruction of an entire urban neighborhood – roadway reconstruction, ADA sidewalks, porous asphalt systems, other green infrastructure and surface improvements.
- 84% reduction in sewer overflow.
- This program includes the Alewife Reservation Stormwater Wetland project which won 4 National Engineering Awards including:
- American Public Works Association (APWA) 2014 Project of the Year in the Environment $25 million – $75 million category.
- Engineering News-Record’s (ENR) 2014 Best in Water/Environment: New England.
Project Impact
- Resulted in a reduction of the combined sewer overflows to the Alewife Brook by 85%, improving the water quality of the Alewife Brook, the Mystic River and the Boston Harbor.
- Created new wetlands habitats in this brand new ecological man-made filtering system.
- The project included significant biodiversity benefits to the area, bringing back some of the original wildlife. More than 100,000 wetland native plants were planted to stabilize the newly landscaped terrain, and more trees and plants were placed along the bike path and entry way.