Central Avenue North Water Improvements

Project overview

The Central Avenue North project replaces two sections of water mains. One is a 133-year-old 14-inch water main from Lowell Avenue to Abbey Sawyer Memorial Drive, a critical piece of infrastructure of the City of Dover’s water system. The other is an undersized six-inch water main from Glenwood Avenue to Lowell Avenue installed in 1927. The contractor has replaced both mains with new 16-inch ductile iron pipes expected to last the next 100-150 years. The contractor did trench restoration in April and May 2022 and will return in June 2022 for a full pavement overlay.

The project significantly improves reliability and fire flow capacity. The improvements also provide better interconnection between the City’s two pressure zones, increasing the water system’s reliability throughout the City. 

Design work on the project began after the City Council in May 2020 authorized Underwood Engineers to perform the work. Underwood Engineers also provides day to day oversite of the project for the City of Dover. 

The project went out to bid in April 2021, and the City received three bids. At its June 23, 2021 meeting, the City Council selected the lowest responsive and responsible bid from N. Granese & Sons, Inc. of Salem, Massachusetts, as the contractor. The work began at the end of August 2021, and was substantially complete in early January 2022. In May and June 2022, the contactor returned to the site for restoration work, paving and striping.