The Department of Public Works (DPW) manages the City’s infrastructure assets, including its roads, intersections, water and sewer utilities, and drainage systems. Capital planning activities include programming and implementation of the City’s Pavement Management Plan, Water System Study, and various sewer studies. The DPW also manages the City’s annual road reconstruction program and is responsible for long term planning on corridors such as Common Street and Mount Auburn Street. Please monitor this section for project-specific updates.

Capital Projects

Annual Road Program

DPW presents a list of roads to the City Council for reconstruction each fall. Roadway reconstruction includes improvements to the roadway surface, as well as new granite curbing, concrete sidewalks, and accessible ramps. This page includes presentations, concept plans, and construction information.

CIP Project Sewer Rehabilitations

The City of Watertown started a sanitary sewer improvement project during Winter 2024-25 as part of its Inflow and Infiltration (I & I) program.

The project is happening in several concurrent phases, with different contractors handing each phase. 

Cottage Street Water Main Replacements

The City proactively replaces water mains when their age and condition make them vulnerable to unexpected service interruptions and costly repairs. The Cottage Street water main replacement project includes all side streets from Cottage Street, including: Sawin Street, Rifle Court, Lyons Street, Sexton Street, Hearn Street, Molloy Street, and Cottage Lane. The water mains on these streets will be upgraded to ductile iron pipe in order to continue providing high-quality water service to these areas.

Morse Street Reconstruction

The City is reconstructing Morse Street in 2023.Included in the project are new curbing, new sidewalks, roadway resurfacing and installation of traffic calming features, such as raised intersections.

Mount Auburn Street Complete Streets Project

The City of Watertown is redesigning Mount Auburn Street to improve safety and better accommodate vehicles, transit, bicycles, and pedestrians.  The project will be funded by the State and is expected to begin construction in 2024.

Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) Pipeline Improvements

Information about the Intermediate Pipeline Improvements CP2 Rehabilitation of Sections 24 and 25 MWRA Contract No. 6956.

Watertown Community Path

The Watertown Community Path is a proposed multi-use path that will provide pedestrians and bicyclists with a safe and easily accessible route through much of Watertown.

Watertown Complete Streets Program

A Complete Street is one that provides safe and accessible options for all travel modes – walking, biking, transit, and motorized vehicles – for people of all ages and abilities. Designing streets with these principles contributes toward the safety, health, economic viability and quality of life in a community by improving the pedestrian and vehicular environments and providing safer, more accessible and comfortable means of travel between home, school, work, recreation and retail destinations.

Completed Projects