Third Phase of the Sucker Brook Continuity Restoration Project

Work will begin in early Spring to replace the 36”-diameter failed corrugated metal culvert pipe currently under Heald Street with a 16’-wide precast concrete culvert. The increased size will mimic and enhance the natural stream processes thereby improving access to critical habitats both upstream and downstream of the crossing for aquatic species such as eastern brook trout, several rare and endangered mussel populations, and other species and it will also benefit public safety, improve climate readiness, and reduce the risk of infrastructure failure by accommodating larger storm flows. Building community resiliency to reduce current and future climate change impacts is critical. By replacing failed culverts with crossings that have been engineered and designed to meet the Massachusetts Stream Crossing Standards, opens the door to State grant programs that address climate change impacts.  Millions of dollars in grants from both the Massachusetts Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program and Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) have been awarded to the Town of Pepperell for culvert work that has been ongoing since 2019. 

suckerbrook phase 3 photos

A site visit with National Grid representatives; John Fiore of Maverick Construction, the Contractor; and Town of Pepperell staff was held to discuss the process to relocate the natural gas line that runs next to Heald Street to a temporary utility bridge in preparation for the replacement of the Heald Street culvert in Spring of 2023. 

The replacement of the Heald Street culvert includes the temporary relocation of a natural gas line, as well as the sewer and water lines. To ready the site for installation of the culvert in the Spring of 2023, Maverick Construction installed a temporary utility bridge for the installation of the natural gas line in the Fall of 2022. The sewer and water lines will be relocated onto the temporary utility bridge in the Spring. The temporary utility bridge was engineered specifically to accommodate all three utilities while the culvert is replaced.

National Grid constructed a steel liner sleeve, which was welded together and x-rayed for leaks, to protect the natural gas line. The steel liner was then secured onto the temporary utility bridge. Jersey barriers were placed along the side of Heald Street to protect the natural gas line. In the Spring, the new culvert will be installed. Once the utilities are relocated onto the new culvert, the temporary utility bridge will be removed. 

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6