Piping work on Route 1 set to begin

SAUGUS – After years of countless water main breaks and traffic jams on Route 1, Saugus will finally start its much-anticipated water main replacement project on the northbound side of Broadway tonight.James Waugh, temporary director of the Department of Public Works, said work will run from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. Monday nights through Friday mornings and will likely last until November.?This is the beginning of the large water main project that we?ve been trying to get funds for years to do,” Waugh said. “We want to get rid of that old main out there that keeps breaking. It?s antiquated. That baby has been there since I?ve been here and I?ve been here for 25 years.”Waugh said the Main Street on ramp to Route 1 North along with the right travel lanewill be closed during the project as a new 12-inch line is installed from Main Street to Home Depot.Waugh also said the old six-inch line will be capped and abandoned.?It?s not only going to help the breaks, there?s going to be enhanced fire protection with the volume of water in the 12-inch main versus the old six-inch that?s out there,” said Waugh. “There will also be better pressure for consumers and better water quality. There may be disruptions if something unforeseen happens. But we?re prepared to deal with that.”In May, Town Manager Scott Crabtree said an $800,000 MassWorks Infrastructure grant, which is part of $2.8 million in state aid for water-main repair, was in limbo pending legislation on Beacon Hill. However, on Friday, Crabtree said the issue should be resolved soon and shouldn?t cause any delay with the project.?It looks pretty good,” said Crabtree. “They?re going to start and my understanding is something will work out with the grant or the legislation, one or the other, but it shouldn?t delay anything as far as being able to finish. The legislation is moving through.”Crabtree said installing new water mains on Route 1 is long overdue and thanked former Town Manager Andrew Bisignani along with state Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus) and state Sen. Thomas McGee (D-Lynn) for their work.?This doesn?t just affect this community it affects all the communities that use Route 1,” said Crabtree. “The former Town Manager as well as the state delegation and the consultant Paul Rupp that works for the town did a phenomenal job of securing this for the town and for the whole region.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].