Saugus water projects slated to stall traffic

SAUGUS – Commuters in the west end of town can expect traffic delays beginning as early as 7 a.m. and continuing after sundown due to water projects that all get underway today.Department of Public Works Superintendent Joseph Attubato said the latest water line project would start Wednesday on Howard Street. The installation of the new line will run from Juniper Drive to Sweetwater Street.”It should take a couple of months,” Attubato said. “It will include new water mains, water services and hydrants.”The daily work should be wrapped up by 4 p.m. each day so as to not interfere with rush hour traffic.Attubato said he expects the first phase of the project to wrap up in early November before winter weather settles in. In the spring, the project is slated to pick back up and move into Golden Hills.Late travelers could also expect some delays at the intersection of Lynn Fells Parkway and Main Street. The Massachusetts Water Resource Authority will also begin work today to replace a 12-inch water valve that’s been leaking back into the town’s water system.”Weather permitting they’ll start that project after 8 p.m.,” Attubato said.The late start time, he added, is again an attempt to miss rush hour traffic, this time on the backside. Attubato said there would be flasher boards and signage warning drivers of the upcoming work.He also noted that neither project was being paid for directly by the town. The water main replacement is part of an ongoing project funded through an MWRA no-interest loan that was approved last spring by Town Meeting. The MWRA is footing the bill for the valve work since it is their valve.