Base to experience road closures beginning Oct. 9

  • Published
  • By Rhonda Siciliano
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --   Beginning Oct. 9, Hanscom drivers will experience some main road closures in order to accomplish repair work on steam lines and condensate return pipes. 

"The steam lines and condensate return pipes in this trench are corroded and need to be replaced," said Chris Perkins, Base Civil Engineer. "The only way to get to the lines is to dig out the pavement and pull off the trench covers just under the road surface." 

The steam lines carry steam into base facilities for heating purposes. Condensate lines carry the hot water that condenses before returning to the out of the steam plant in building 1201 to be re-heated and re-used. 

By replacing deteriorating and leaking lines, more of the condensate can be returned to the plant to be turned back into steam. This reduces the need to add new water and conditioning chemicals, which requires more energy to heat than condensate. 

Additionally, new pipes will have better insulation, which reduces the amount of heat lost in both steam and condensate lines, said Engineering Manager Bob Notartomaso, Del-Jen, Inc. 

Roads that will be impacted by the repair work include the following: Oct. 9 work will begin at the intersection of Chennault and Forbes Street. Chennault will be open to one lane of traffic and Forbes Street will not be affected. Work is expected to be completed on this section around Oct. 19. 

On Oct. 22 work will begin at the intersection of Barksdale and Marrett Street. Barksdale will be open to one lane traffic until Nov. 2, work will commence again on this intersection on Nov. 5 with Marrett Street being open to one lane traffic. Work is scheduled to be completed on this section Nov. 16. 

Mr. Perkins said that while the contractors are in the trench they will repair the pipes and insulation covering the pipes as well as the valves, hangar system and any other structural problems that they find. 

"We will try to minimize the impact to drivers but it is really critical that this work be completed. Updates will be provided on any schedule changes that may occur," Mr. Perkins said. "At the end of each day, during the repair effort, workers will place steel plates over the steam trenches and both lanes of traffic will be open."