USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1957 > Part 15
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Several temporary roadways were cleared, bulldozed and gravel- filled to permit the Consulting Engineers conducting the 1957 Water Adequacy Study to drive test wells and conduct pumping tests in hither- to untested sectors of Hundred Acres. As a result of the testing, several locations have been discovered which seem capable of development as gravel-walled wells, each being fifty or more feet in depth with good yield. Roadways also were made at other locations removed from Hundred Acres, on private property, test wells driven, and sustained pumping tests made.
General
During the early summer months, it was necessary to again sup- ply a number of residences situated on high elevations by means of Fire Department and Civil Defense pumpers. Small distribution mains, loss by friction, and water usage by consumers at lower elevations were responsible for this condition.
It is anticipated that, with the development of a new source of water supply and further development of Hundred Acres well field, the installation of distribution mains of adequate size, and other im- provements recommended by the consulting engineers, it will, in the near future, be possible to supply the consumers with all the water they require and demand.
The various statistical tables appended hereto give additional data regarding the Water Division.
168
STATISTICS FOR YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1957
READING WATER DEPARTMENT
Reading, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
General Statistics
Population 1957 Estimated - 17,414.
Date of Construction of Pumping Stations - 1931, 1953.
By whom owned: Town of Reading.
Source of supply: artesian wells, gravel-packed wells.
Mode of supply: pumping.
Pumping Statistics
Builders of pumping machinery: DeLaval Steam Turbine Co., A. D. Miller, Inc.
Pumps at Hundred Acres Stations
Pumping Station No. 1
(A) - Pumping unit No. 1 - Electric two-stage 5/4 DeLaval 75 H.P., 1750 R.P.M., 3 phase, 60 cycle, 440 volt. 900 G.P.M.
(B) - Pumping unit No. 2 - Electric two-stage 8/6 DeLaval 125 H.P., 1750 R.P.M., 3 phase 60 cycle, 440 volt. 1200 G.P.M.
Auxiliary Station No. 2
Pumping unit - Cook Rotation Electric 50 H.P., 1800 R.P.M., 3 phase, 60 cycle, 440 volt. 850 G.P.M.
Emergency drive - 4 cylinder Twin Disc Continental gasoline engine.
Auxiliary Station No. 3
Pumping unit - Cook Rotation Electric 20 H.P., 1800 R.P.M., 3 phase, 60 cycle, 440 volt. 550 G.P.M.
Emergency drive - 4 cylinder Twin Disc Continental gasoline engine.
K.W.H. electric power used for year - 735,000.
Total Pumpage (Venturi, Builders' Flo-watch meters - 471,102,600 gals.
Average number of gallons per K.W.H. - 652.42.
Average static head against which pumps worked - 228.
Average dynamic head against which pumps worked - 258.
Cost of pumping (per million gallons) power only - $27.40.
Cost of pumping (per million gallons) based on total pumping station expenses - $38.98.
Cost of filtration (per million gallons) based on cost of plant oper- ation - $2.85.
Cost of water supply (per million gallons pumped) figured on cost of maintenance, plus interest on bonds - $242.96.
169
Kinds and sizes of pipes: Cast Iron, Galvanized Iron, Lead-Line 214" to 12".
Main Extensions 1957 - 114" 2
60.00 Ft.
152.50 Ft.
6
2288.30 Ft.
8
4240.10 Ft.
12 " 1581.50 Ft.
Total 8322.40 Ft.
Total Length of Pipe now in use - 71.967 miles.
No. of Hydrants added during year - 14.
No. of Hydrants Public and Private now in use - 463.
No. stop gates added during year - 41.
No. stop gates now in use - 1160.
No. stop gates smaller than 4" - 170.
No. of Blow-offs added during year - 1.
No. of Blow-offs now in use - 34.
Range of water pressure - 45 to 90 pounds.
STATISTICS RELATING TO SUCTION MAINS AND WELLS - 1957
Kind of Pipe - Cast Iron.
Size of Pipe - 8", 10", 12", 16".
Total Length Pipe in use - 8" - 4608.00 Ft., 10" - 882.00 Ft. 12" - 1820.00 Ft., 16" - 116.00 Ft. Total - 7426.00 Ft.
Gates on suction and force mains now in use - 8" - 4. 10" - 1. 12" - 12. 16" - 1. Total - 18.
Wells on various line - Line A - 6, Line B - 18, - Line C - 11. Line D - 12, Line E - 16, Line F - 20, Line G - 8, Line H - 13, Line I -9, Line J -9, Line K-8. Total - 131.
Gravel-packed wells at auxiliary pumping stations - 2.
STATISTICS RELATING TO SERVICES - 1957
Kinds of Pipe - Cast Iron, Cement Lined, Galvanized Iron, Copper Tub- ing.
Sizes - 3/4" to 6".
Services extended in 1957 - 9330.70 feet.
No. of New Service Pipe Connections made in 1957 - 154.
No. of Services now in use - 4560.
Average length of services installed in 1957 - 60.59 feet. No. of new water meters tested in 1957 - 313.
No. of old meters, cleaned, repaired and tested 1957 - 405. No. of water meters junked - 9.
No. of water meters now in use - 5110.
170
T
YEARLY RECORD OF HUNDRED ACRES PUMPING STATIONS January 1, 1957 thru December 31, 1957
Month
No. Days
Pumped Hrs. Mins.
(Venturi Meters) Gallons Pumped Station 1 Stations 2 & 3
Total Pumpage
Power Gals. per K.W.H,
K.W.H. Rainfall
Avg. Daily Gals. Pumped
January
31
495
15
23,050,200
14,014,800
37,065,000
60,400
613.66
1.83
1,195,645
February
28
585
00
27,236,200
8,364,000
35,600,200
54,100
658.04
1.22
1,271,436
March
31
628
30
30,408,800
7,889,700
38,298,500
53,700
713.19
2.32
1,235,435
April
30
622
30
29,188,300
7,422,800
36,611,100
48,300
757.99
3.10
1,220,370
May
31
738
15
29,699,000
12,569,700
42,268,700
59,200
717.00
2.49
1,363,506
June
30
733
30
28,641,100
15,781,800
44,422,900
73,000
608.00
.78
1,480,673
July
31
688
00
30,677,200
16,893,400
47,570,600
87,200
545.53
1.13
1,534,535
August
31
698
45
33,449,600
7,547,700
40,997,300
77,600
528.32
1.65
1,322,494
September
30
720
00
32,128,600
5,781,800
37,910,400
53,700
705.91
.52
1,263,680
October
31
736
15
30,460,500
8,760,700
39,221,200
64,200
610.92
2.14
1,265,200
November
30
718
00
28,903,000
6,681,900
35,584,900
52,400
679.10
3.08
1,186,163
December
31
744
00
31,913,300
3,638,500
35,551,800
51,200
694.37
5.40
1,146,832
Totals
8086
80
355,755,800
115,346,800
471,102,600
735,000
652.42
25.66
1,185,198
HUNDRED ACRES PUMPING STATION
COMPARATIVE TOTAL PUMPAGE OF WATER - FOR PAST 10 YEARS
Year
Total Pumpage (Gallons)
Increase or Decrease
Average Daily Pumpage
Increase or Decrease
1948
288,389,200
20,352,400 (I )
787,948
60,535 (I)
1949
324,296,900
35,907,700 (I )
888,466
100,518 (I )
1950
328,962,800
4,665,900 (I )
901,265
12,799 (I)
1951
324,343,400
4,619,400 (D)
888,584
12,681 (D)
1952
352,404,400
28,061,000 (I )
962,854
74,270 (I )
1953
405,580,000
53,175,600 (I )
1,111,178
148,324 (I )
1954
374,804,000
30,776,000 (D)
1,026,860
84,318 (D)
1955
412.582,400
37,778,400 (I )
1,130,363
103,503 (I)
1956
430,214,900
17,632,500 (I )
1,175,451
45,088 (I)
1957
471,102,600
40,887,700 (I )
1,185,198
9,747 (I )
172
WATER MAIN EXTENSION - 1957
Street
Location
11/4" 2"
6"
8"
12"
Total Hyds. Gates
Cherry Lane Dr.
Summer Ave., Westerly
400.00
400.00
1 2
Dividence Rd.
Emerson St., Westerly
382.50
382.50
2
Dustin Rd.
Dead End, Southerly
60.00
60.00
Fremont St.
Dead End, Westerly
185.00
185.00
1
Grove St.
Strout Ave., Westerly
308.00
308.00
0
1
Hanscom Ave.
Tower Rd., Northerly
53.20
53.20
Harvard St.
Tying in 2 dead ends
133.50
133.50
1 2
Irving St.
Wells Rd. to Pearl St.
305.40
305.40
2
Laurel Lane
Dead End, Westerly
157.20
157.20
1
2
Linnea Lane
Dead End to Pearl St.
520.80
520.80
1
2
Pearl St.
Main St., Northerly
1000.00
1000.00
2
4
Putnam Rd.
Dead End to Pearl St.
803.60
803.60
2
4
Scout Hill Lane
Shady Hill Lane, Easterly
272.10
272.10
1
2
Shady Hill Lane
Putnam Rd., Southwesterly
489.70
489.70
1
2
Timberneck Dr.
Dead End, Westerly
595.00
595.00
1
1
West St.
Arcadia Ave. to Summer Ave.
141.40
278.00
419.40
5
Winslow Rd.
Dead End, Westerly
152.50
152.50
1
Trancoa Chemical
Ash St. to Trancoa Bldg.
781.00
781.00
1
2
12" Main to Bus. C
Hopkins St. to Jacob Way
1303.50
1303.50
2
6
Totals
60.00
152.50 2288.30
4240.10
1581.50
8322.40
14
41
AMOUNTS OF RAINFALL FOR YEARS 1900 THROUGH 1957 HUNDRED ACRES PUMPING STATION
Year
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Totals
1900
5.32
8.69
5.03
2.15
4.60
3.13
1.90
3.17
4.15
3.31
5.05
2.44
48.94
1901
1.33
1.08
5.88
9.59
7.21
1.74
4.65
2.66
3.59
2.76
3.06
8.10
51.65
1902
1.80
6.11
4.69
6.22
1.69
1.98
3.02
3.75
4.01
4.91
0.99
5.60
44.77
1903
3.84
3.16
6.38
4.95
0.48
8.91
3.40
3.42
2.29
3.69
1.33
2.59
44.44
1904
4.42
2.21
2.21
9.90
3.56
2.56
1.88
4.26
5.16
2.02
1.80
2.25
42.23
1905
5.44
1.47
2.92
2.59
1.39
6.11
1.19
3.30
7.87
1.20
2.22
3.72
39.42
1906
2.60
2.53
6.48
2.84
5.14
2.63
5.88
4.18
1.36
2.38
3.31
3.08
42.41
1907
3.97
2.10
2.40
3.21
2.89
3.80
3.58
1.33
7.90
3.36
6.83
3.80
44.97
1908
3.07
4.28
2.72
1.71
4.00
1.58
3.09
4.07
0.86
3.56
1.10
2.66
32.70
1909
4.17
5.33
3.57
3.95
1.97
2.14
3.59
2.75
3.74
1.23
4.06
3.60
40.10
1910
4.54
3.14
1.58
2.32
1.19
4.36
1.98
2.61
2.45
1.48
4.30
1.92
31.87
1911
2.25
2.94
3.12
1.89
0.67
3.43
4.79
3.80
2.94
2.91
4.14
3.57
36.45
1912
2.68
2.42
5.04
4.05
5.73
0.29
6.44
2.02
3.02
1.45
3.10
4.80
41.04
1913
2.48
2.64
4.51
3.76
3.45
0.93
1.68
3.48
3.66
7.56
2.13
3.24
39.52
1914
3.34
3.65
4.09
6.32
2.76
1.44
2.34
2.78
0.23
1.51
2.92
3.69
35.07
1915
5.52
3.54
0.00
2.72
1.68
4.60
8.76
6.66
0.70
2.80
2.93
5.47
45.38
1916
1.22
5.37
3.37
5.14
4.59
5.86
3.13
2.30
3.11
1.01
1.94
2.01
39.05
1917
2.92
2.41
4.18
2.90
4.00
4.78
1.19
3.70
1.46
5.75
1.39
2.65
37.33
1918
3.08
3.02
2.02
4.10
0.85
3.04
2.99
2.81
8.37
1.02
2.24
2.48
36.02
1919
3.24
3.61
4.01
2.46
5.44
0.88
3.22
3.83
5.65
2.63
6.20
1.53
42.70
1920
2.75
6.46
4.21
5.75
3.27
5.24
1.94
2.02
4.27
1.16
4.67
4.82
46.56
1921
2.09
3.43
2.43
5.48
1.86
4.02
9.79
1.96
1.74
1.57
6.50
2.28
43.15
1922
1.77
2.72
4.27
1.37
5.08
11.27
4.88
3.29
3.68
2.73
1.06
3.12
45.24
1923
6.95
1.67
2.60
5.17
1.56
2.79
1.98
3.17
0.82
3.63
4.13
4.83
39.30
1924
3.77
2.55
1.71
4.25
3.10
2.53
2.70
4.80
7.95
0.05
2.56
1.52
37.49
1925
4.28
2.14
7.66
2.95
2.05
5.62
3.13
2.37
2.16
4.66
3.94
5.53
46.49
1926
2.53
4.41
2.83
2.24
2.19
1.80
2.08
3.30
1.32
3.95
3.89
3.08
33.62
1927
2.32
3.18
1.30
1.43
2.19
2.27
3.04
5.28
2.68
4.10
4.18
4.77
36.74
1928
.. ...
2.17
3.37
1.45
5.13
2.77
6.63
3.65
3.84
4.18
2.96
2.28
2.57
41.00
1929
3.14
3.76
3.49
6.81
3.50
1.21
1.19
4.53
2.41
2.49
2.87
3.63
39.03
....
...
..
.. .
1930
2.48
2.05
3.29
1.90
3.38
2.19
4.07
2.77
0.79
4.45
3.68
2.20
33.25
1931
3.27
2.72
4.94
3.07
3.53
6.47
3.76
4.11
1.97
2.43
1.26
3.72
41.25
1932
3.92
1.90
4.83
2.01
1.17
1.81
2.04
5.09
7.24
7.26
5.25
1.29
43.81
1933
2.27
3.46
7.22
6.51
2.70
1.27
1.47
4.41
9.97
3.50
0.96
3.47
47.21
1×34
3.17
3.29
5.13
3.09
2.52
4.00
1.35
1.73
6.43
3.89
2.03
2.70
39.23
1935
6.13
3.23
1.06
4.72
1.44
6.21
2.67
1.98
4.03
0.58
4.36
0.90
37.31
1936
6.60
3.09
7.23
3.01
2.05
2.73
1.75
4.49
4.15
1.59
1.37
8.24
46.30
1937
4.50
1.80
3.21
4.61
3.13
3.45
0.97
3.91
3.04
4.48
5.18
4.89
43.17
1938
4.08
2.07
2.11
3.12
3.51
7.18
11.42
2.19
8.33
2.93
1.86
2.85
51.65
1939
2.08
3.48
4.00
4.47
2.02
2.77
0.73
3.13
2.45
4.66
0.77
2.92
33.48
1940
2.22
4.34
3.68
4.65
3.52
2.41
2.58
0.80
4.59
1.05
6.67
2.73
39.24
1941
3.16
1.88
2.51
1.87
2.24
2.09
3.66
3.05
0.58
2.13
2.38
4.08
29.65
1942
4.25
2.98
7.20
2.02
3.34
3.19
5.08
1.82
2.18
2.99
4.72
5.61
45.38
1943
3.09
1.03
3.57
2.60
5.54
2.09
4.79
1.35
0.67
5.84
4.45
1.02
36.04
1944
2.63
2.26
4.22
3.84
0.83
5.32
2.56
2.83
7.22
2.65
6.03
3.18
43.57
1945
2.60
4.40
1.79
2.85
4.28
5.90
3.07
3.07
1.19
2.62
7.77
6.41
45.95
1946
3.91
3.06
1.57
2.74
5.26
3.39
1.90
8.64
2.37
0.37
1.02
4.09
38.32
1947
3.10
1.03
3.69
4.91
3.27
2.58
5.83
1.44
3.33
0.44
6.24
3.09
39.91
1948
4.33
2.11
2.84
2.63
5.38
4.63
4.83
1.08
1.00
3.08
5.41
1.41
38.73
1949
3.47
3.28
1.25
4.25
3.37
0.84
1.78
5.05
4.28
1.93
3.03
1.86
34.39
1950
4.41
3.12
3.67
1.95
1.38
1.38
1.91
4.19
1.56
3.27
6.31
3.53
36.68
1951
3.33
3.79
4.76
1.87
4.74
3.47
4.72
2.11
1.77
5.15
6.84
4.56
47.11
1952
4.64
3.71
3.67
4.45
5.14
1.50
0.93
8.85
1.83
1.32
2.27
4.14
42.44
1953
6.72
2.96
7.57
5.43
4.81
1.09
2.31
0.64
1.46
5.52
5.91
3.81
48.23
1954
2.34
2.53
3.13
3.93
10.97
1.46
2.16
5.88
9.92
1.61
5.27
5.25
54.45
1955
0.63
3.69
4.17
3.18
1.86
3.29
1.17
12.45
2.29
8.95
5.88
1.02
48.58
1956
7.80
4.59
6.27
4.13
1.33
1.57
1.93
1.35
3.29
3.06
4.09
4.73
44.14
1957
1.83
1.22
2.32
3.10
2.49
.78
1.13
1.65
.52
2.14
3.08
5.40
25.66
Average . ..
3.58
3.20
3.81
3.86
3.26
3.38
3.26
3.54
3.57
3.00
3.64
3.53
41.03
RAINFALL AT HUNDRED ACRES PUMPING STATION 1957
Month
Normal Rainfall
1957 Rainfall
Excess or Deficiency 1957
January
3.52
1.83
1.69 D
February
3.15
1.22
1.93 D
March
3.74
2.32
1.42 D
April
3.80
3.10
.70 D
May
3.21
2.49
.72 D
June
3.32
.78
2.54 D
July
3.20
1.13
2.07 D
August
3.47
1.65
1.82 D
September
3.49
.52
2.97 D
October
3.00
2.14
.86 D
November
3.64
3.08
.56 D
December
3.53
5.40
1.87 I
Totals
41.07
25.66
15.41 D
TABLE SHOWING DAILY AMOUNTS OF RAIN AND MELTED SNOW HUNDRED ACRES 1957
Day of Month
Jan. Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug. Sept.
Oct.
Nov. Dec.
1
. .
.14
.25
.13
.15
.. .
.02
. .
.. .
3
. ..
.. .
. .
. . .
...
...
4
. .
. .
. . .
.18
T
.66
.09
...
. ..
. . .
5
. ..
. ..
.30
...
. . .
. ..
. ..
.04
8
.01
.33
.05
.09
.58
10
.51
...
. .
. ..
.84
.07
.01
.80
12
.02
工工:
.09
.10
. .
. .
...
. ..
...
15
.01
.01
.56
...
. .
...
.16
.01
.01
18
. ..
. .
..
. .
. .
.20
.40
.02
20
. ..
.30
.39
.07
..
.03
.80
21
. . .
. .
T
...
.01
.10
. .
. ..
.. .
...
23
...
...
. .
. .
...
.05
.44
. .
...
26
..
.52
. . .
. .
.11
.10
.02
27
. . .
.10
.10
. .
T
T
. ..
. .
...
:16
.33
29
.10
...
. ..
.01
T
.26
.02
...
.02
1.16
. ..
31
. ..
...
...
...
.. .
...
.05
. . .
. ..
.03
.54
Totals
1.83
1.22
2.32
3.10
2.49
.78
1.13
1.65
.52
2.14
3.08
5.40
Accum.
Totals
1.83
3.05
5.37
8.47
10.96
11.74
12.87
14.52
15.04
17.18
20.26
25.66
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
...
.12
.16
.29
.01
16
.14
...
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
...
. .
...
...
19
. . .
.10
.01
.49
...
. .
T
..
. .
. . .
.. .
22
.41
. .
. .
..
. .
. .
.28
. ..
..
. .
. ..
. ..
...
.01
.63
...
28
. .
. .
.18
. ..
..
.02
30
. ..
...
. .
. .
. .
17
...
. .
.03
.75
.67
. .
.02
. ..
. ..
.20
.52
.18
9
·
...
1.19
11
.41
.27
.. .
.28
. ..
...
13
14
. .
. .
...
.31
...
...
. .
.06
..
2
. .
.12
1.12
.07
. .
. .
.. .
6
.38
...
7
.35
. .
.24
.58
.25
. .
. .
...
. .
24
...
25
.11
.01
...
. ..
.88
...
. .
..
.58
.05
.04
.46
. .
.02
176
KINDS AND SIZES OF WATER METERS IN USE JANUARY 1, 1958
Make
5/8"
3/4"
1”
11/4" 11/2"
2""
3"
4" 6"
8" Totals
Nash
1470
17
1
4
2
1494
Empire
1029
2
1031
Trident
1255
2
7
4
8
5
1 1282
Hersey
531
11
24
6
8
7
1
1
1 590
Gamon
368
2
370
Pittsburgh
149
13
2
164
Crown
38
2
1
3 7
51
Worthington
29
1
2
2
34
Lambert
43
2
45
Union
31
1
1
1 34
Federal
1
1
Thompson
4
4
Keystone
1
8
9
Gem
1
1
Totals
4949
30
52
17
19
25
12
1 4 1 5110
177
Highway Division
Major improvements to the highway system in 1957 were as fol- lows:
Arthur B. Lord Drive:
Original construction. Started in February 1956 as access road to Birch Meadow Elementary School, this road was partially com- pleted in 1956, then construction ceased pending erection of school. In August, 1957, the school contractor removed his construction shacks, materials and equipment from the roadway, enabling the Highway Division to grade the roadway, apply the finished street surface, in- stall bituminous concrete sidewalks on the Westerly side, set granite corner curbings, and coplete the roadway, with the exception of fine grading the Easterly embankment. This road is 824 feet in length.
Birch Meadow Drive:
Original construction, voted at Adjourned Annual Town Meet- ing March 25, 1957, as access road to Birch Meadow Elementary School, from Oakland Road to John Carver Road, 2443 feet in length. This roadway followed the Northerly perimeter of Birch Meadow, in- tersected Arthur B. Lord Drive, and skirted Birch Meadow Ice Skating Area. Work consisted of removal of trees and brush, extensive storm drainage installation, including two crossings by means of large cul- verts of the Birch Meadow (Aberjona River), Brook, ordinary and gravel borrow, asphalt penetration and sealing of the sidewalk on the Southerly side. The roadway was opened for travel prior to the opening of the Birch Meadow Elementary School on September 23, 1957. The road is completed with the exception of completing side- walk construction from Arthur B. Lord Drive to John Carver Road, loaming, seeding and fine grading of the roadside ramps, and gen- eral cleanup. Road construction was made difficult by the overbur- den of ledge rock, tree logs and debris spread over much of the area by the earlier rough-grading of Birch Meadow. Highway Division personnel accomplished all of the construction work described here- in, with the exception of installing the bituminous concrete sidewalk surfacing.
Jacob Way:
Original construction, voted at Special Town Meeting, Novem- ber 19, 1956, as access road to the Business C zoned area from South Street near Main Street to land of the Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1116 feet in length. It had been anticipated that construc- tion of this roadway could be started in January of 1957, and site clearance, removal of buildings located within the right-of-way, and roadway ledge removal continued during the Winter months. How- ever, legal technicalities concerning land damages and abandonment of existing rights-of-way and easements delayed the start of actual physical construction until June 29, 1957, when an official entry was made. Work started on that date from Englund (Private) Road to
178
the Addison-Wesley property consisting of the removal of large trees, brush, boulders, roadway earth excavations, ordinary and gravel borrow placement, and grading of a 40 foot roadway, to afford imme- diate relief to the Business C area. The remainder of Jacob Way, which contained many cubic yards of roadway ledge, was then ex- cavated, ledge rock drilled and blasted, two wooden buildings re- moved, and ordinary and gravel borrow placed. Completion of the roadway is scheduled for early Spring of 1958.
Chapter 718 Road Construction - Summer Avenue
Under the provision of Chapter 718, Acts of 1956, entitled "An Act Providing For An Accelerated Highway Program", the Town of Reading was allotted the sum of $43,167.81 for the purpose of road construction. This sum was an outright grant, subsidized by the Federal Government, projects to be approved for construction by the State Department of Public Works.
The project approved for Reading is the reconstruction of Sum- mer Avenue, from Main Street to Woburn Street, with a Class I Bi- tuminous Concrete Type I-1 surface. A location survey was made, construction plans prepared and specifications drawn, but due to the magnitude of the project and the approach of winter, it was deemed expedient to postpone bidding the project until the early Spring of 1958. As is customary, all utilities in Summer Avenue will be renewed as required prior to construction, to insure against disruption of the street surface.
Forest Street Resurfacing:
Forest Street, from Main Street to Grove Street, a length of 5025 feet, was laid out by the County Commissioners in 1925, 40 feet in width. No sidewalks existed on the greater part of this street, and the paved surface, averaging sixteen feet in width, had been constructed to follow the lines of least resistance, avoiding ledge rock outcrops, large trees, retaining walls and other obstacles. Construction of Birch Meadow Elementary School off Forest Street on Arthur B. Lord Drive made it necessary to provide a sidewalk to protect the lives of elementary school children attending this school, and as a result, a complete relocation of the vehicular traveled way to a width of 24 feet was made, involving no land takings and contained within the original 1925 approved layout. Ledge rock was removed, several large trees removed, a number of stone retaining walls and fences were relocated, additional storm drains installed, and a mixed-in-place surface treatment applied. A much safer condition for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic resulted.
The following listed streets, all Private Ways, were accepted as Public Town Ways under the provisions of Chapter 84, Section 26, Gen- eral Laws, which statute authorizes the assessment of betterments for road construction, at the Annual March 1957 Town Meeting, all on peti- tion of the owners of property abutting said streets:
179
STREETS ACCEPTED AS PUBLIC WAYS Annual Town Meeting - March, 1957
Name of Street
Location - Boundaries
Length Feet
Catherine Ave. West St. Easterly to Dead End
792'
Cottage Pk.
Selfridge Rd. to Catherine Ave.
204'
Gleason Rd.
South St. Northerly
634'
Harvard St.
Lowell St. to Essex (Priv.) St.
638'
Irving St.
Main St. to Pearl St.
560'
Juniper Cir.
Wakefield St. Northerly to Dead End
521'
Milton Rd.
Howard St. Northerly to Dead End
486'
Richards Rd.
Tamarack Rd. to Timberneck (Priv.) Dr.
1350'
Selfridge Rd.
West St. to Cottage Pk.
766'
Sturges Rd.
South St. Northerly - in its entirety
1640'
Susan Dr.
Franklin St. North-Westerly to Dead End
710
Tamarack Rd.
Wakefield St. to Timberneck Dr.
1125'
Timberneck Dr. Haverhill St. to Tamarack Rd.
716'
TOTAL Lin. Ft. 10,142
These streets were all constructed during 1957, six (6) by contract and Department forces, seven (7) entirely by Department labor and equipment. Of the thirteen (13) streets listed herein, six were streets bonded for construction by developers, four were streets approved by the Board of Survey prior to the adoption of the Subdivision Control Law, which authorizes full controls over developments, and three were streets requiring original construction in whole or in part. On all through streets subjected to extraordinary vehicular traffic, bituminous concrete siewalks were constructed for safety of pedestrians. Roadway construction costs are borne 100% by the abutting property owners, sidewalk construction costs 50% by the abutters and 50% by the Town, according to statute.
General Highway Maintenance
Road surfaces as a whole came through the winter season in fair condition, with the exception of streets where utility trenches had settled. With the emergency restrictions on water usage in effect dur- ing much of the 1957 construction season, it was not possible to permit the use of water in "puddling" construction trenches for proper com- paction, and it is anticipated that abnormal settlement of these trenches will occur when rain and frost undermine the trench fill.
Early in the Spring of 1957, the mechanical street sweeper removed the accumulation of sand deposited on the streets through the Winter of 1956-1957 for snow and ice control, and a planned program of street resurfacing and/or surface sealing was carried out, and 51,773 gallons of road oil was used to surface-treat approximately 208,000 square yards of roadway surface. On streets where road surfaces had become deformed by utility excavations and other causes, a mixed-in-place sur- facing program with road oils and stone cover, mixed and leveled with a road grader and then compacted with a road roller, was instituted. This
180
method of resurfacing requires no roadway excavation, and results in a one inch or more thickness of new material being added to the existing road surface, at a nominal cost. Mixed-in-place operations were com- pleted in nine locations comprising 7230 square yards of roadway, using 28,903 gallons of road oils and 1469 tons of stone cover. In addition, a total of 1257 tons of cold patch and hot top were used to fill depressions, holes, and sunken trenches in roadways. Patching operations were above normal during 1957, and will continue at an abnormal rate be- cause of utility excavations.
A permanent street resurfacing operation was completed on Wash- ington Street, from Main Street to Village Street, with the application of 598 tons of Class I Bituminous Concrete Type I-1 over the existing street surface.
Chapter 90 Construction
The accumulated Chapter 90 Construction appropriations for 1955, 1956, and 1957 were used in 1957 to finance construction of West Street, from Woburn Street to North of Longwood Road, including installation of a 72" storm drain culvert at the intersection of West Street, Willow Street and Summer Avenue to permit proper flowing of the Aberjona River.
This project was supervised by the State Department of Public Works, awarded on bid to a private contractor. Work accomplished in 1957 consisted of:
Installation of the 72" culvert at Aberjona River
Completion of all storm drain installations
Roadway earth excavation, gravel borrow, roadway grading Stone surfacing and sealing of entire contract
Setting granite curbing as required, including traffic islands
In 1958, a new contract will be awarded to surface West Street 1957 construction with Class I Bituminous Concrete Type I-1, and continue new construction from Longwood Road Northerly.
Chapter 90 Maintenance
Chapter 90 Maintenance funds were expended on surface treatment of a section of Haverhill Street. With funds received from the State, County and Town, 8650 gallons of road oil and 443 tons of pea stone were used to complete 13,200 square yards of mixed-in-place surface treatment.
Alterations and Relocations
Three relocations or alterations of existing street lines were voted at the Annual Town Meeting in March 1957, as follows:
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