By Kathy Ferrari
Times Staff
10/23/08

(previous)
The MWRA is constructing two 10-million-gallon water storage tanks that will be buried in the east end of the old Blue Hills Reservoir. The tanks will provide an emergency supply of safe drinking water as well as water for fire protection for the city of Quincy, the town of Milton, and parts of Boston.
According to DCR Press Secretary Wendy Fox, the road will continue to be open to pedestrian and bike traffic, as it is a popular destination for nature lovers and sports enthusiasts. The DCR has kept a close eye on the impact the construction has taken on environmental issues, and has been working with groups concerned with this issue.
The project appears to be running on time, according to MWRA Communication Director Ria Convery.
“It’s going great, and it is right on time,” she stated. “The floors are poured on tank number one, and overall it’s doing pretty well,” she added.
The closure will be necessary as the MWRA executes water pipe connections that lie under the road. There will be big equipment moving in and out of the area, and the DCR will simultaneously utilize the opportunity to prune trees in the area.
The closure will be similar to the closure that took place last year, from Dec. 3 through Dec. 21.
Deputy Chief of Police Paul Nolan anticipates little impact on the town’s other roads during the closure.
“We really had no problems last year when they closed the road in December,” he stated. “People got used to it, and used the town’s other routes. We anticipate little impact,” he said.
The Blue Hills Reservoir was built in the 1950s and was removed from active service in 1981 due to contamination from birds and animals. According to the DCR, when the current project is completed in 2010, a meadow will be planted on top of the buried tanks. A new dam will be built with grassed slopes and hiking trail, the remaining half of the reservoir will be restored, a fishing pier will be added, and wetlands will be created and enhanced to support wildlife habitat.