West End sewer project showing improvements, completion expected in January

CAMBRIDGE — With the West End sewer project more than halfway complete, the city and its residents are noticing improvements.

The project aims to address sanitary sewage overflow in the lowest lying area of the city at Water Street and Hambrooks Boulevard.

Lou Hyman, a resident of Ward 1 — the ward in which the project is located — said that sewage overflows mean brown water flooding the streets and people’s yards.

“It was just really nasty when you’re trying to walk your dog,” he said.

Cambridge City Engineer Carl “Bucky” Jackson said as the cracks and leaks in the sewer system along Hambrooks Boulevard from Choptank Avenue to Somerset Avenue are repaired, less ground water and tidal water is flowing into the sewers. This means that the sanitary sewer flow is lower, so there aren’t as many overflows during rain and high tide events.

“The tidal influence we’ve had just recently in the last five days, we more than likely would have had a sanitary sewer overflow prior to this project,” Jackson said in an interview with the Star Democrat on Sept. 24. “But we have not experienced it in the last week.”

Hyman said while there is still flooding, the water is now clean.

As the project progresses, Jackson said the sewer lines between Glenburn and Somerset avenues still need to be completed, along with “some minor work along the way.” Jackson said after repairs have been made to the sewers, the next step will be to pave the entire stretch of road from Somerset Avenue to Choptank Avenue.

Jackson said completion of the project is expected in January, as long as they are able to get asphalt before the asphalt plant closes for the winter.

Although the project is currently slightly ahead of schedule, Jackson said it’s too early to say if the project will get completed earlier than planned. He said that some bad weather is typical for the months ahead and so the project might not remain ahead of schedule.

The $3.8 million West End sewer project is the first of four projects part of a five-year, $20 million capital program to address water and sewer infrastructure. Jackson said the $4.1 million Trenton Street pump station replacement, also part of the capital program, is currently awaiting permitting.

Cambridge Ward 1 Commissioner Laurel Atkiss said that along with sewage overflowing onto the street, some residents in her ward have had issues with their drains and with flushing their toilets in instances when the tide is high and the streets are flooded.

“That’s definitely a problem,” she said. “Everybody needs to be able to use their facilities.”

She said she has heard from residents who live along the waterfront that they are feeling relief from the West End sewer project.

Hyman said there is still more work to do.

“But we’re not getting the sewer line overflows that we were getting,” he said.

Atkiss said that many of the city’s current projects are to correct mistakes made in the past. She said some of the plumbing practices used 100 or 150 years ago aren’t environmentally sound or don’t have “effective, long-term results.”

“When they get into some of these streets, they’re unearthing a puzzle — almost at every intersection — of what was done over the years and how they have to untangle it and correct it,” she said. “So they don’t even know what they’re getting into until they get to each block.”