USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1950-1954 > Part 9
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A total of 112,033 gallons of tar was applied.
Article 8 covered work done with Chapter 90 Maintenance funds wherein the Town supplied two thirds and the State one third of the cost of $3,000.00. Sections of Lowell Street Route 133 and sections of River Road were armor-coated with RC-5 as- phalt and pea stone. Also a section of River Road was treated with tar T-6. The joints in the cement portions of Union Street and Haverhill Street were sealed with Genasco asphalt.
Article 9 covered work accomplished with the aid of Chapter 90 Construction funds, half of which was supplied by the State, one quarter by the County and one quarter by the Town. Main Street beginning at a point near the Post Office at the end of the section completed in 1949 and extending approximately twenty- four hundred feet to the junction of Chapel Avenue, School and Main Streets were resurfaced with a two-course hot-top Type I bituminous by Warren Brothers Roads Company using a total of 1954.15 tons costing $14,658.01 and at a net cost of $3,664.50 to the Town.
New sidewalks were constructed on the following streets under Article 11: Pasho Street, west side; Lincoln Street, east side from Shawsheen Road to residence of Francis Sparks; High Street, west side by the Veterans' homes; High Street, west side, near Harding Street; Brook Street on the north side; Central Street, east side from Essex Street to School Street; and on the west side of River Street, Ballardvale.
For this work 346 tons of hot top material were used.
A walk was constructed across the Park, removing loam and filling in with gravel and topping with stone dust. Granolithic sidewalks in Shawsheen Village were patched where the slabs were uneven.
The above construction and repair work cost $4,955.25.
Under Article 12 with an appropriation of $2,500.00 a Ford tractor loader was purchased. Appurtenances included a material loader and bucket, a snow bucket, grader blade, snow plow and cab.
The work of widening the roadway and acquisition of land on Chandler Road at Bourdelais', North Street at Bateman's was performed under Articles 14 and 15, and cost $448.05 and $241.97 respectively.
Stevens Street from No. 27 to Cassimere Street for a distance
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of 800 feet on the northwest side was widened to a width of 26 feet. This work involved the resetting of curbing the entire dis- tance. The appropriation of $2,500.00 was set up under Article 16 and the cost was $1,787:66.
The entire wood sections of the Andover Street Bridge in Ballardvale were replaced and treated with a wood preservative and all metal work was given two coats of paint. Reinforcing plates were welded on at all four ends of the superstructure. U- bolt hangers supporting the flooring of the bridge were installed in the previous year. The appropriation of $6,250.00 was raised under Article 19 in 1949 and the final cost was $5,269.67.
The embankment on the Greene property on Dascomb Road was planted with Scotch Pines and shrubbery. Slope rights were acquired for $250.00 and the cost of trees, shrubs and planting was $224.50. This work was done under Article 54 of 1949.
A small wooden bridge on Woburn Street was replaced with a 30" reinforced concrete culvert pipe at a cost of $243.72.
To provide for adequate Highway Maintenance for 1951, we recommend an appropriation of $59,089.77.
TRUCKS, GARAGE AND REPAIR SHOP MAINTENANCE
To provide for adequate Trucks, Garage and Repair Shop Maintenance for 1951, we recommend an appropriation of $12,- 500.00.
WATER DEPARTMENT
At the Town Meeting in March under Article 1 on a supple- mentary warrant, $15,000.00 was appropriated for the purpose of installing pumping equipment in the Haggetts Pond Station. After contracts had been let the only work performed in 1950 was the removal of an old foundation and the expenditures for the year amounted to $697.75.
An appropriation of $34,500.00 was made under Article 18 and this amount together with the sum of $6,500.00 from Article 24 in 1948 Warrant is to be expended for the purpose of improving and enlarging certain facilities of the water system, namely, pump, controls and necessary piping at the High Service Pump- ing Station; cleaning and relining the present force main from this station to the High Service reservoir and cleaning and re-
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lining small portions of the High Service mains. The cost of cleaning and relining the force main to the reservoir was $15,- 365.47 and relining of the six-inch line on Salem Street from Holt Road to Highland Road cost $3,632.79. The cost to date on the pumping facilities at the Bancroft Road Station is $1,138.92 leaving a balance of $20,862.82 from the two articles.
Under Article 21, $20,000.00 was appropriated for the purpose of extending and improving the water system. All work was to proceed with the joint approval of the Board of Selectmen, the Finance Committee and the Board of Public Works.
Location
Size
Length
Abbot Street
6"
527 Ft.
Gray Road
6''
223 "
Flint Circle
6'
398 "
Lovejoy Road
6"
1200 "
Vine Street
8''
143 "
Woodland Road
6"
1113 "
Total
3604 Ft.
Also, 480 feet of 6" pipe has been placed on Sunset Rock Road in preparation for installation there connecting two dead ends.
An additional 489 feet of six inch and 478 feet of eight inch water pipe was purchased under this article. Also, a certain amount of hydrants and valves have been ordered for 1951 de- livery. The cost to date is $13,065.57.
Other installations by private interests were:
Location
Size
Length
Alden Road
6''
274 Ft.
Memorial Circle
6"
753 "
Sutherland Street
188 "
Total
1215 Ft.
During 1950, 546,313,000 gallons of water were pumped at the Haggetts Pond Pumping Station for a daily average of 1,496,750 gallons. The steam turbine was in operation 3960 hours, 55 min- utes and the electric pump 2803 hours. Both units were in opera- tion concurrently a great portion of the time.
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WATER SYSTEM SUMMARY, for year ending December 31st
Year
Received from Water Rates
Net Cost of Maint. incl. pumping
Direct Cost of Pumping
Cost per Mil. Gals.
by total mainten.
by direct pumping
Received per Million Gals.
Annual Pumpage Haggetts Station (Million Gals.)
No. of service pipes in use
No. of Meters in use
No. of Hydrants
Miles of Main Pipe
1940*
$52,241.14
$27,799.18
$15,256.13
$67.04
$36.79
$125.99
414.653
2653
2587
728
79.89
1941
57,702.22
27,796.08
17,494.91
56.81
35.76
117.93
489.287
2729
2663
739
80.63
1942
55,259.54
30,859.93
18,211.08
74.13
43.75
132.74
416.314
2743
2677
741
80.77
1943
55,831.00
33,418.32
19,387.57
85.53
49.62
142.90
390.688
2747
2681
741
80.77
1944
62,039.75
38,043.35
20,658.91
89.48
48.59
145.92
425.152
2709
2688
742
80.77
1945
54,622.93
43,148.15
21,916.43
106.30
53.99
134.58
405.883
2735
2705
765
84.90
1946
60,169.98
47,857.73
22,638.40
107.86
51.02
135.61
443.692
2797
2767
785
88.64
1947
59,170.09
47,200.50
19,587.05
100.56
41.73
126.07
469.364
2862
2832
788
88.87
1948
62,472.54
49,967.87
26,340.63
98.94
52.15
123.70
505.036
2969
2939
796
89.69
1949
64,013.87
48,659.18
26,453.23
91.49
49.74
120.36
531.844
3066
3036
810
90.82
1950
67,871.62
49,417.39
26,516.09
90.46
48.54
124.24
546.313
3202
3172
815
91.73
*See Annual Report of 1939 for years 1889 through 1939.
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To provide for adequate expenditure in the Water Department during 1951, we recommend an appropriation of $52,600.00. Services in use January 1, 1951 3202 Meters in use January 1, 1951 3172
RECEIPTS
Water Rates
-$67,871.62
Water Services and Miscellaneous
-
720.68
Paid to Town Treasurer
$68,592.30
SEWER DEPARTMENT
No sewer main installations by the Department were made in 1950. Refer to the Engineer's Report for private work and other information.
To provide for adequate Sewer Maintenance for 1951, we re- commend an appropriation of $6,950.00.
SEWER MAINS
COST OF CONSTRUCTION
Sewer Mains - 109,620 Ft.
Cost to Abuttors
$221,058.00
Jan. 1, 1951
Cost to Town
407,252.00
Total
$628,310.00
PARK DEPARTMENT
Poles and wire forming a backstop at the baseball diamond were removed and replaced by a more permanent and smaller one.
The portable bleachers which are located each year on the east side of the football field were painted.
At the Ballardvale playgrounds an area 90' x 60' was prepared for ice skating. This area is suitable for summer play as well, such as roller skating. A gravel base was prepared and finished with a two-course asphalt surface. This work was performed under Article 30 at a cost of $2,153.25.
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A steel flagpole was erected at the north end of the football field. The pipe, rope and some cement was supplied by the Boosters' Committee, and the work of constructing the pole, painting, excavation and cement work was performed by the Board of Public Works. The Fire Department ably assisted in the erection in time for the dedication held on Thanksgiving Day.
To provide for adequate Park Maintenance for 1951, we recom- mend an appropriation of $6,500.00.
ADMINISTRATIVE, SUPERVISION AND OFFICE EXPENSE
To provide for adequate expense for this Department for 1951, we recommend an appropriation of $17,800.00.
STREET LIGHTING
Annual Cost for Lights Installed January 1, 1950 $22,336.00
Lighting Changes During 1950
Annual Cost
Date Location
Lights
to Town
1/9/50 North Street
9-1000 L. In $162.00
1/9/50 River Road
3-1000 L. In 54.00
1/16/50 North Main Street 2-2500 L.UG Out -96.00 Credit
4-16,000 L.MV In 380.00
1/20/50 Andover Street
1-2500 L. In 28.00
2-2500 L. Out -56.00 Credit
3-1000 L. Out -54.00 Credit
1/21/50 Summer Street
1-1000 L. In 18.00
1/23/50 Summer Street
3-1000 L. In 54.00
1/23/50 Beacon Street
2-1000 L. In 36.00
. 1/23/50 Summer Street
2-1000 L. Out
-36.00 Credit
2/13/50 Boston Road
1-1000 L. In 18.00
3/1/50 Lowell Street
3-2500 L. In 84.00
4/7/50 Summer Street
1-1000 L. In 18.00
1-2500 L. UG Out -48.00 Credit
1-1000 L. UG Out -38.00 Credit
11/9/50 Main Street
2-16,000 L. MV UG In 230.00
11/13/50 Main Street
2-2500 L. UG Out -96.00 Credit
11/14/50 Lowell Street
6-1000 L. In 108.00
11/16/50 Main Street
2-16,000 L. MV UG In 230.00
Annual Cost for Lights Installed During 1950 $996.00
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11/6/50 Main Street
Lights Pending Installation
Dale Street, Ballardvale
1-1000 L. $18.00
River Road
14-1000 L.
252.00
Woburn Street
4-1000 L.
72.00
Ballardvale Road
1-1000 L.
18.00
Wildwood Road
1-1000 L.
18.00
Total Cost for Lights Pending
$378.00
TOTAL REQUIRED FOR 1951 STREET LIGHTING BUDGET TO COVER ABOVE $23,710.00
To provide for adequate Street Lighting for 1951, we recom- mend an appropriation of $24,000.00.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD R. LAWSON, Superintendent
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Engineer's Report
To the Board of Public Works:
GENTLEMEN :
The fourth annual report of the Engineering Department, covering the calendar year 1950, is hereby respectfully submitted for your consideration.
As in the past, engineering services and advice have been furnished to the various departments and boards of the Town when such assistance has been requested.
At the request of the Selectmen the Veterans Housing Sub- division on High Street was revised so that Lot 11 could be re- duced in area and a new lot, Lot 14, created. These changes were recorded in the Registry of Deeds.
A survey and study was made at the Town Infirmary on Car- mel Road with a view toward improving a poor drainage condi- tion there, and in August a system of gutters and curbs was con- structed to direct and control the rain water run-off in that area.
A survey and approval plan was made for parking meter loca- tions on Punchard Avenue, on both sides from Main Street to Bartlet Street.
During the month of September the town scales were acci- dentally damaged. After a structural investigation to determine the extent of the damage, specifications were prepared for com- petitive bids and the low bidder cleaned and painted all the steel framing in the scale pit, placed new platform beams, and con- . structed a new timber platform.
At the request of the School Building Committee a plan of the Central School Area was prepared showing the location of all buildings and the utility services to them. This plan was used by the Committee's architect in his preliminary planning and loca- tion studies for proposed buildings in the area.
Assistance was also given to the Andover Housing Authority for their sewer and water construction work at their project on Morton Street; to the School Committee for the reconstruction of the Bradlee School driveway and for the setting of a steel flag- pole at the Playstead; and to the Recreation Committee for the planning and construction of a paved skating area at the Ballard-
175
vale Playground. This latter project was performed jointly by the Board of Public Works forces which did the excavation, grading and drainage, and the Atlantic Paving Company of Pea- body, which company applied the hot top surfacing and curbs in October.
Information and assistance has been furnished from time to time to all engineers, surveyors, contractors and property owners who have called upon this department. The more common re- quests concern street line location, water service and main loca- tion, and sewer location and elevation.
A steady effort has been made to maintain and improve the office records, altho with the work load of outside construction and special projects it has not been possible to accomplish as much in this direction as your engineer would desire. Several old and inexact sewer record plans have been replotted, and all finished sewer record plans are now indexed and filed. A goodly portion of the current year's new water service locations have been entered in record notebooks; but there remain many more to enter at an early date. It is most urgent that the street index of services be brought up-to-date. This index has not been revised since it was originally made in about 1939, and altho efforts have been made to keep the intown changes up-to-date, the rapid growth of certain outlying sections make a revision necessary. This work will be of major proportions and will require the ser- vices of at least two men in the field for about two weeks, as well as clerical work in the office.
A study of the water rates in Andover has been started and a check into the costs of delivering water to the ultimate user is nearly completed. During the coming year figures will be pre- sented to the Board for their consideration in regard to the ad- visability of revising the present water rates.
A list of minimum standards of construction on private ways that are planned for acceptance has been prepared for the Board's consideration. Since the Board has to pass on every such way before the Town will accept it, a set of such minimum standards should prove most helpful to real estatedevelopersand contractors. When adopted by the Board, such a list will serve to describe exactly the quality of construction that is to be expected before public acceptance will be recommended.
The large town map at the scale of one inch equals eight hund-
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red feet has been revised and brought up-to-date as of December 1950. This is the first revision of this map since 1942. While the master tracing of this map is not the property of the Town, recent demands of the Civil Defense program were deemed to be of sufficient urgency to warrant the Engineering Department's co- operation with Clinton F. Goodwin of Haverhill, Mass. toward obtaining an up-to-date map.
During the latter part of the year a Department of Civil De- fense was formed in Andover in accordance with a law of the General Court. In common with other town officials, your engineer has been assigned certain duties in the Civil Defense organization. Up to the end of the current year the demands of these duties have been negligible. However, it is generally ex- pected that during the coming year the program will expand rapidly and take up more of the time of those persons connected with the organization.
HIGHWAYS
Lines and grades were furnished for the widening of Central Street on the north side from Lupine Road easterly for a distance of 950 feet. Granite edgestone was set thruout this length and the average widening was about six feet.
Prior to Town Meeting, land.taking plans were prepared for highway work on Chandler Road, North Street and on Argilla Road and budget articles prepared for this work. The first two listed jobs received the approval of the Town Meeting and the work on them was done during the Summer. A curve on Chandler Road at Octave Bourdelais' was widened ten feet for a distance of . 245 feet. A parcel of land 1920 sq. ft. in area was acquired here to allow for cutting back the slope to improve the sight distance. A curve on North Street at land of Agnes V. Bateman was widened ten feet for a distance of 144 feet. A parcel of land 1120 sq. ft. in area was acquired here to allow for cutting back the slope to im- prove the sight distance.
On the westerly side of Stevens Street from No. 27 to Cassi- mere Street the existing edge stones were set back for a distance of six feet and the widened roadway repaved. The finished road- way in this section is now 26 feet wide between curbs except for a short section near Cassimere Street which is 23 feet wide. This work was done in September.
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Lines and grades were furnished on North Main Street for the raising of sewer and water structures. The State Department of Public Works resurfaced North Main Street from Stimson's Bridge to the Lawrence City Line with 21/2 inches of hot top. This work was done during July and August.
Lines and grades were furnished on Main Street for the raising of sewer and water structures. During the first week of August the Board of Public Works resurfaced Main Street from the Post Office to Chapel Avenue with 21/2 inches of hot top. The entire length of Route 28 in Andover is now paved with a high type surface except that section thru the Phillips Academy Campus.
Line and grades were furnished for the sidewalk construction program carried on in the latter part of the year. The two princi- pal jobs requiring field work were those on High Street along the Veterans' Housing Subdivision and on River Street, Ballardvale, where the sidewalk was extended.
A new culvert was installed on Abbot Street at a point about 420 feet north of Porter Road to replace an old corrugated metal culvert pipe. Two pieces of condemned 16" cast iron water pipe were used for this.
Estimates were prepared for the 1951 Chapter 90 Program and on October 19th I attended the annual hearing at Salem, Mass. with Superintendent Lawson. Work requested consisted of the paving of Haverhill Street with hot top from the B. & M. R. R. Overpass to High Street, the reconstruction of Lowell Street at Argilla Road, the widening and surfacing of River Road near Jacobson's and the usual amount of Chapter 90 Maintenance Work. The total estimated value of work requested was $37,- 500.00.
A survey was made for the purpose of studying the possible widening of Shawsheen Road from Cuba Street to Stevens Street and a survey was made for the purpose of studying the possibility of lowering the grade of the roadway on Chandler Road where it crosses the abandoned B. & M. R. R. near Fred Doyle's home.
During July and August two construction projects which in- directly affect the Town were completed in Ballardvale. The B. & M. R. R. reconstructed its grade crossing there, dividing the old single crossing into separate crossings for Andover Street and for Tewksbury Street. Additional drainage was installed and
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the surfacing of the approaches greatly improved. At this time automatic crossing gates were installed to replace the old manual gates, and the crossing tender's shanty and the Ballardvale Depot were removed.
The American Woolen Company and other interested con- cerns repaired the Shawsheen River Dam at Ballardvale. This dam had fallen into a bad state of repair and leaked quite ex- tensively. A new spillway bridge was constructed, new flash boards installed, and the leaks thru the body of the dam were plugged.
BRIDGES
The open deck bridges on Stevens Street and on Central Street were inspected twice during the past year and found to be in good condition. At the end of the sanding season both bridges were flushed down with water to remove any sand and salt which may have lodged on horizontal surfaces.
By the middle of the coming year both bridges will be two years old and it is felt that it would be good maintenance to start painting these bridges at regular intervals. Therefore it is recom- mended that the Central Street Bridge be painted during the year 1951 and that the Stevens Street Bridge be painted during the year 1952.
A small wooden bridge on Woburn Street was replaced on July 5th and 6th. The timber flooring on this bridge was in poor condi- tion and required continual maintenance. A reinforced concrete pipe culvert 42" in diameter and 28 feet long was laid within the abutments of the old bridge, headwalls constructed at the ends, and the whole back-filled with gravel and paved.
In August the flooring of the Andover Street Bridge over the Shawsheen River in Ballardvale began to break up badly, and upon a thorough investigation of the abutment ends of the stringers it was found that these were rotted and ready to fail. It was therefore decided to renew completely the entire timber floor system of this bridge and to paint the structural metal of the bridge. Accordingly, the bridge was closed to traffic, the tim- ber flooring and sidewalks were removed, the bridge seats were trued up and reconcreted, new stringers and sub-flooring of long leaf yellow pine were installed, and a wearing floor and sidewalk of fir were installed. The top surface of all stringers and floor
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planks was painted with a decay retarding compound. All metal work on the bridge was brushed, scraped, and given a spot coat of red lead followed by two coats of Kings No. 7 Sage Green paint. All of this work, together with the reinforcing of the U-bolt floor beam hangers and the reinforcing of the end posts, places this bridge in as good a condition as possible short of major structural changes. This bridge could be safely rated for an 8-ton load; but due to its age of about 76 years, and the tendency for trucks to exceed posted load limits it is felt that 6 tons is a safer limit for this structure and it is so posted.
Despite the repair work done on this bridge this year, which was absolutely necessary in order that the bridge be kept in use, it is still felt that the structure has outlived its useful life and should be replaced by a new and stronger bridge more in keeping with present day truck loadings.
WATER SYSTEM
Record drawings and sketches, showing the location and extent of water mains constructed and house services installed during the year, were made for the permanent files.
Assistance has been furnished to the Water Department in lo- cating gate valves, mains, and services, for repair or maintenance work.
A reconnaissance survey and location study was made for a pro- posed 12-inch force main thru the West Campus of Phillips Academy from Phillips Street to Hidden Road. A tentative agree- ment for an easement was made with the Trustees of the Academy and a more definite agreement may easily be prepared when it becomes advisable to construct this main.
A field survey was made and a taking plan prepared of land off Bancroft Road owned by George J. and Melrena Flathers. This land was proposed as the site of a new 6 million gallon distribu- tion reservoir. No action was taken on this landtaking after the proposal to construct a new reservoir was defeated in the Town Meeting.
Preliminary studies and rough sketches were prepared for a six million gallon earth embankment open reservoir adjacent to the present Bancroft Road reservoir. This project was not put into execution.
During the course of checking ownerships and making land
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surveys for the proposed reservoir it was discovered that there is a case of trespass on town land just southeast of the Low Service Reservoir. Because of a conflict in deeds, the abuttor feels that he is rightfully occupying his own land. After a friendly conference with the abuttor, your engineer placed all the pertinent data in the hands of the Town Counsel and at the present time is awaiting an opinion as to which owner has the legal right to the land in question.
Preliminary studies, contract drawings and specifications were prepared for the installation of a new electric driven centrifugal pump for Haggetts Pond Station. The work was divided into two sections and after advertising and receiving competitive bids, the low bidder on each phase of the work was awarded a contract.
In order that the new pumping unit may be installed in the present building it was necessary to remove part of the existing operating floor, remove a large section of brick and granite mason- ry which was part of the foundation for one of the old vertical pumping engines long since removed, reinforce the remaining portion of the operating floor, and construct a pipe guard rail around the new opening in the floor. The contract for this work in the amount of $720.00 was awarded to the John Simensen Con- struction Co., Inc., of Wakefield, Mass. on July 31, 1950, work was started on August 1st and was completed on August 14th with the exception of a small quantity of floor paving, which is to be completed after the new equipment is installed.
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