Sucker Brook is conveyed through a culvert beginning on the south side of Main Street and extending through the parking lot of 680 Worcester Road/74 Main Street and discharging at a headwall into a stream that is tributary to the Sudbury River.
On March 4, 2022 a portion of the existing culvert that conveys Sucker Brook under the parking lot collapsed resulting in a sink hole in the parking lot and partial closure of the lot. The existing culvert that failed is a 36” x 58” elliptical corrugated metal pipe. A short term repair was made in order to maintain flow through the system. The short term repair included installation of approximately 24 feet of 24” diameter corrugated plastic pipe to replace the failed section of culvert. The work was done under an emergency certification issued by the Framingham Conservation Commission on March 4, 2022.
Subsequent CCTV inspection of the entire culvert has shown that it is in poor condition with significant corrosion and section loss. The existing headwall is also in poor condition. The outfall pipe is crushed and the headwall is cracked and displaced. The City has been working to design a replacement for the culvert and procure the needed materials.
The short term repair significantly decreases the capacity of the culvert and creates potential for surcharging and or washout during significant rain events. This coupled with the poor condition of the culvert and headwall create a potential for further deterioration of the system and possible failure. Given that we are approaching hurricane season with an increased potential for significant rain events, it is felt that this constitutes an emergency situation and the City intends to replace the section of the culvert from the headwall to first manhole past the repair. The new culvert will be 48” diameter corrugated plastic pipe. The work includes removal of the existing deteriorated culvert, installation of a new headwall, installation of 3 – 8’ diameter manholes and installation of 150 feet of 48” diameter corrugated plastic pipe. Erosion controls will be installed prior to starting the work. The work area will require dewatering by diverting the flow from Sucker Brook to a rip-rap pad/silt bag in the upland area behind 74/75 Main Street.
The work is anticipated to begin the week of August 22nd. The City is currently preparing an NOI which will describe both the emergency work and the proposed plans to replace the entirety of the culvert.