North Andover Conservation Commission Approves Emergency Repairs to 130-Year-Old Culvert

Conservation · Meeting of July 22, 2026

North Andover Conservation Commission votes unanimously for emergency culvert repairs while rejecting a contractor bond waiver. The commission approved a friendly enforcement order Wednesday authorizing F.P. Riley to repair and permanently reline the 130-year-old brick arch culvert under Sutton Street, which carries flow from Sutton Pond to the Merrimack River and has operated under one-lane traffic restrictions since June 3 following a structural assessment by consultant TEC.

Assistant DPW Director John Bragese estimated the work at two to three months, involving temporary shoring, brick repointing, a rebar cage, and a spray-on structural concrete liner — all under a single contractor mobilization. In a separate action, the commission voted approximately 3-2 to reject a request by Tropiano Construction to substitute an existing $1.6 million performance bond for the commission's required $50,000 cash bond on the Osgoode Street and Great Pond Road intersection project, with one member arguing, "I just don't understand how you get the surety money" in an emergency. The commission and DPW said they would work toward a broader policy giving conservation staff access to dedicated town funds on future projects.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,189 words

Source: the Conservation meeting of July 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.