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/summer 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 are finishing preclearing and installing a telecommunications duct bank and catch basin.
- Grading will take place in preparation for paving at Milestone Street (former East Drive), interim Trotting Avenue and Almay Street all within the site.
- 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.
Two major sections of an 84-inch diameter concrete drainage pipe have been placed behind the DEF. 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.
- Installation of 48-inch piping will take place adjacent to the DEF.
- 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. 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 theroadway 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. This month pedestrians will continue using the sidewalks inside the HBS lot until the sidewalk in front of HBS reopens. Later in the month the sidewalk closest to the ERC will close. Both sidewalks are set to reopen by the end of the month.
- Crews are backfilling the west trench and will be working in three work zones this month in preparation to restore Western Avenue. Work will continue in the zone in front of HBS, then progress to the zone in the middle of the roadway followed by the area adjacent to the ERC.
- 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, with minor punch list items remaining.
South Campus Drive Utility Work
South Campus Drive has been paved and vehicular, cycling, and pedestrian traffic has shifted from the temporary roadway back to the original alignment along the McCurdy track.
- Crews are backfilling and restoring an underground telecommunications work zone within the closed 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.
- The work is expected to wrap up this month.
92 Seattle Street
- Fencing has been installed around the project site perimeter as crews prepare to mobilize for the upcoming renovation.
- Select interior demolition, abatement and other early construction activities will take place this spring.
- 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.
Western Avenue Steam Manhole Repair
- Nightime repair work on a steam manhole on Western Avenue closer to the Charles River will continue to take place from 7PM to 7AM intermittently for the next month.
- The work zone will be coned off while work is underway and opened during the day.
Kresge Way Gas Line Relocation Phase 2
- After review and approval, the initial preparation for the Kresge Way National Grid gas line relocation phase 2 may begin this month with soil probe test pits.
- This work will be coordinated to minimize impacts to traffic.
175 North Harvard Street
- Landscaping work will take place mid-April. The work consists of the removal of a tree that is diseased and in poor condition creating a safety risk with large branches currently supported by wires connected to the trunk.
- Three trailer field offices will be set up in the 201 Western Avenue lot mid-month.