Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  Will there be work on the weekends?

A: There will be no construction work on Sundays.  Work on Saturdays will be limited and only occur after 9 am and only after prior written notification which will be posted on the project web-sites and project information boards.

Q:  Can a 24-hour-a-day contact be established to handle calls from the River East houses concerning the project?

A: A Construction Mitigation Call Center (617-496-0857) has already been implemented. Someone will be available to answer all questions and concerns between 6 am and 6 pm . In an after hours emergency, the Harvard Operation Center (617-495-5560) will need to be contacted or the appropriate emergency response service.

Q:  How will construction noise be managed? 

A:  The City of Cambridge and The Mitigation Program have strict protocols regarding the level of noise allowed by construction activity. All reasonable efforts will be made to choose means and methods that would limit the amount of noise. Implementation of noise reducing systems will be used and all equipment on site will be checked to ensure that they are at peak operational performance.

Q:  How will dust, airborne materials, and odors be managed?

A:  The Construction Manager shall employ dust, odor, and gas control measures to minimize the creation of airborne dusts, odors, and gases during the entire construction process. Standard dust control techniques shall be employed such as watering down the site or covering dust producing materials and areas. Installation of exhaust scrubbers on heavy machinery may also be necessary to cut down on the diesel odor emissions.  

Q: How will heavy trucking be handled?

A:  All heavy trucking including large deliveries and dirt trailers will be staged off-site and called in when there is adequate space available to deliver or load.  Trucks are prohibited from idling on-site for a long duration of time, and adjustable volume back-up alarms are specified for all vehicles. Throughout heavy trucking activities Police details will be used to make sure that the public way remains safe and accessible.

Q:  How and when will notice of service interruptions be made?

A:  Service interruptions will be posted to the construction web site and information boards. The Mitigation Department will also distribute flyers to individual residence a couple of days before any service interruption.

Q: How will streets and sidewalks conditions be handled during construction?

A: Construction activities that will require the streets and sidewalks in the area to be taken by the project will be clearly marked and alternate routes will be posted where necessary. Before the project returns these areas back to the public all pre-construction conditions will be restored.

Q: How will site security be handled during construction?

A: During construction The Harvard University Police Department will have an increased presence on and around the site to ensure that site security and public safety is carefully monitored.