Lexington Select Board approves MWRA overnight pipeline work on Mass. Ave. through September

LEXINGTON — August 4, 2025 — Lexington Select Board unanimously approves MWRA permit for overnight pipeline construction on Massachusetts Avenue through September. The board voted 5-0 Monday to allow the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to conduct overnight work between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m., four nights a week from September 2 through September 30, for the installation of 300 linear feet of water main from Hibbert Street to 1540 Massachusetts Avenue as part of a northern extra high pressure zone redundancy upgrade. MWRA Design Manager Milan Hobachevsky said approximately 160 feet of the work lies in Lexington and the remainder in Arlington, with MWRA seeking a parallel permit from that town. Member Mark Sandeen initially abstained, pressing for decibel data at 100, 200, and 300 feet from equipment — not just the standard 10-foot OSHA figures — before changing his vote to yes after construction coordinator Alejandro Alvarez committed to provide that information. Chair Jill Hai said nighttime work would impose less burden on residential neighborhoods than daytime detours through side streets, adding the motion requires emergency vehicular access be maintained at all times and that crews use all available noise mitigation.