Enterprise Research Campus (ERC)* Phase 1 Enabling Infrastructure Work
Enabling work continues at the parcel of the future Enterprise Research Campus (ERC) in Allston across from Harvard Business School (HBS) bordered by the Mass Pike, Western Avenue, Hague Street, and the National Resilience Inc. facility at 500 Soldiers Field Road. Much of the project work, which will continue through this year, involves underground investigations, pre-clearing, trenching, and utility pipes/conduit/utility structure installations. Construction activities will continue through 2024 for the construction of streetscape elements and completion of roadways.
Foundation work on four new buildings and an underground parking structure will be the first phase of the Developer construction work, which is currently scheduled for spring 2023.
- As the project progresses, there will be an uptick in truck traffic on Western Ave during project work hours, typically 7AM to 3PM Monday through Friday. Trucks will follow approved truck routes to/from the jobsite to ensure they are not traveling on neighborhood streets.
- National Grid continues to install gas main lines and service on Trotting Avenue and Axle Way inside the ERC site.
- The interim driveway to Harvard’s District Energy Facility (DEF) shifted to Trotting Avenue.
- Crews continue preclearing, installing a telecommunications duct bank and grading to prepare for paving at Milestone Street (former East Drive).
- Construction noise will continue during work hours.
North Allston Storm Drain Extension Project (NASDEP)
The NASDEP is a project for the Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC) that is designed in collaboration with Harvard University to alleviate the inundated existing storm water systems in the North Allston neighborhood. The proposed modifications to the BWSC stormwater management system will significantly improve its performance by providing much needed additional conveyance capacity. The enabling work for the project began in 2021 and once permitted will continue through 2024. The increased capacity systems are designed to extend from the area south of the new Science and Engineering Complex (SEC), connecting to an existing stormwater drain system in Rena Park, routing through the ERC and following behind the National Resilience Inc. (formerly Sanofi/Genzyme) facility before crossing Soldiers Field Road to an outfall in the Charles River.
One section of 84-inch diameter concrete drainage pipe has been placed, behind the DEF while concrete prepping and placement work continues at the manhole structures. Sheet piles and other piles have been installed near National Resilience to support other underground structures in advance of a National Grid gas relocation at 500 Soldiers Field Road.
- Installation of 84-inch piping continues between manholes off Trotting Avenue and adjacent to the DEF. Eighteen sections of piping was installed in February.
- Activity on-site is ongoing and in accordance with access and monitoring protocols.
- Truck traffic to and from the site continues using the designated route from Hague Street.
- Noise will continue to be intermittent.
Kresge Way Temporary Relocation
As part of Harvard’s infrastructure improvements in Allston, the University is relocating utilities across Western Avenue, over to and on Kresge Way, the main driveway into the Harvard Business School (HBS) campus. In July, a temporary drive to Kresge Way opened to the west of the existing drive. Traffic relocated to this interim drive during the utility crossing work on Western Avenue.
Western Avenue Utility Crossing
A utility crossing at Western Avenue is underway and will allow for expansion of the Harvard’s Allston energy infrastructure. The work is expected to be complete this spring and will allow for improvements to Harvard’s Allston energy infrastructure.
Supporting vehicular, cycling and pedestrian flow, a phased approach is being used to install hot water and chilled water supply and return piping, telecommunications and electrical duct banks across the width of Western Ave. The construction activity consists of six phases to excavate two trenches the width of Western Avenue. Only a third of the roadway is a construction zone allowing for two, open vehicular traffic lanes at all times, one in each direction.
- A detailed traffic management plan is in place always maintaining two lanes of traffic. Pedestrians are being rerouted to the sidewalks inside the HBS lot. The sidewalk closest to the ERC site remains open.
- Crews are installing and fusing chilled water pipes and a duct bank in the west trench in the work zone in front of HBS. Backfilling will take place later this month.
- Appropriate signage and police details will be in place.
- During project hours 7AM to 3PM (at times may extend to 6PM), the work will generate intermittent noise due to the presence of work crews and the use of construction equipment including a vacuum truck and drill rig needed to perform this work.
- Saturday work will take place this month.
DEF Thermal and Electrical Duct Bank Installation
- All are working in coordination with National Resilience.
- The interim access drive to the DEF is now at Trotting Avenue closer to Hague Street.
114 Western Avenue 3rd Floor Office Fit Out
Harvard Real Estate has substantially completed an office fit-out project on the 3rd floor, minor, punch-list work remains.
South Campus Drive Utility Work
South Campus Drive will be paved mid-March. Later this month vehicular, cycling and pedestrian traffic will shift from the temporary roadway back to the original alignment along the McCurdy track.
- Crews are installing a duct bank, backfilling and paving the original South Campus Drive alignment. The duct bank work will continue into a new work zone in the temporary roadway.
- The work will generate intermittent noise due to the presence of work crews and the use of construction equipment including excavators, and a possible vacuum truck needed to perform this work.
- Work hours will be Monday through Friday, 7AM to 3PM with intermittent coordinated Saturday work.
92 Seattle Street Project
- Fencing will be installed on site around the perimeter starting the week of March 6 as crews mobilize and prepare for the upcoming renovation project. A site office trailer will be set up on site.
- Select interior demolition, abatement and other early construction activities will begin later in the month.
- The work will generate intermittent noise due to the presence of work crews and the use of construction equipment including jackhammers.
- Work hours will be Monday through Friday, 7AM to 3PM with possible intermittent coordinated Saturday work.
All sites implement their Harvard-approved snow removal plans during winter weather events.