Waltham council hears National Grid plan to replace century‑old gas mains on South Side; matter sent to committee

The Waltham City Council on June 9 reopened public hearings on two National Grid petitions to replace aging gas mains in the city’s South Side and referred both matters to the License and Franchise Committee for further review.

National Grid representative Mary Mulroney told the council the company seeks city consent to replace multiple runs of 4‑inch cast‑iron and plastic mains — some installed as early as 1913–1917 — with 6‑inch plastic pipe, citing proposed water‑works projects that require coordination. As read into the record, the Bolton/Clinton/Day Street petition would replace “approximately 685 feet of 4 inch cast 2003 in Bolton Street ... with 690 feet of 6 inch plastic” and additional segments in Day and Clinton Streets; the Cutter Street petition would replace “approximately 788 feet of 4 inch cast iron ... with 803 feet of 6 inch plastic.”

Councilors used the hearings to press National Grid on community impacts. Councilor Robert G. Logan (Ward 9) and other councilors asked how soon work would begin if the petitions were approved and whether both projects would run at the same time. Steve DiLorenzo, identified as National Grid’s lead supervisor in Waltham, said the Bolton Street work could begin “probably within a couple of weeks of approval” depending on union scheduling; he estimated a duration of about two months for the Bolton/Clinton/Day project and roughly a month to six weeks for Cutter Street.

Residents and councilors raised operational concerns. Catherine Penny of 41 Bolton Street asked about project timeline, the impact on on‑street parking and how residents would be notified; she asked, “What's the project timeline for this? And then for those of us who park on the street, like, what is the impact to on street parking for this construction?” National Grid said it would send abutter notices and hang door‑knockers and that contractor crew leaders would notify affected residents, but councilors asked the company to provide written notices at least 24 hours before day‑of impacts and a plan for longer‑term staging so work would not remove more spaces than necessary.

Councilor Randall J. LeBlanc and others pressed National Grid for a staging plan after describing problems on a separate Hall Street construction project where equipment, trailers and porta‑potties reduced street parking. DiLorenzo said crews typically try to store pipe and materials compactly on site and leave the roadway open at the end of the day; he confirmed the contractor would likely stage long pipe lengths (40‑foot sticks) and said National Grid would attempt to limit overnight parking of equipment on public streets.

Councilors also highlighted nearby community impacts. Councilor Shanti Durkee and others noted that the corner of Clinton and Newton abuts McDonald Playground and the spray park and said street work during summer could interfere with food deliveries from the Boys & Girls Club and with park users. Councilors requested that National Grid and any contractor examine schedule changes (for example, delaying the Clinton segment until after the spray park season), use dust‑mitigation measures and consider temporary fencing or barriers to reduce dust during active work.

Additional technical and process questions included whether the private dead‑end ways in the neighborhood required separate abutter permission (DiLorenzo said crews speak with Public Works director Mike Chason and notify abutters) and how National Grid and the city would coordinate paving schedules and laterals to customers. DiLorenzo said crews expect to backfill and compact daily and to apply a binder coat; if settlements occur, National Grid said it typically waits up to six months and repairs as needed.

Action and next steps: Council President and the presiding officer closed public testimony and referred both petitions to the License and Franchise Committee; Councilor Vidal (committee chair) said the committee will meet next Monday in the Hoover Room at 7:00 p.m. Councilors asked National Grid to bring to committee a written staging and parking plan, notice and door‑notification procedures, a dust‑mitigation plan near McDonald Playground, and confirmation about whether work crews would park or store equipment overnight on public ways.

Speakers who testified at the hearings included Mary Mulroney (National Grid), Steve DiLorenzo (lead supervisor, National Grid), resident Catherine Penny (41 Bolton Street), and multiple councilors including Robert G. Logan (Ward 9), Randall J. LeBlanc, Shanti Durkee, and others who questioned the petitioner. Several councilors said they would seek further detail in committee before the council acts.

Why it matters: The work replaces century‑old cast‑iron mains that National Grid characterized as “leak‑prone” in places and would affect residential streets used for on‑street parking and city parks used by children. The council directed more detail from the petitioner before deliberating further.

Ending: The council did not vote on either petition; both matters were referred to the License and Franchise Committee for a detailed review at the committee meeting next week. National Grid representatives said they will provide additional project details and that revised plans will be available for committee review.