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What does the Engineering Department do?
The Engineering Division provides the Town of Reading with professional engineering and survey services required to plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain Town facilities and infrastructure among which include all roadway, sidewalk, water, sewer, and drainage projects, as well as the contract preparation and cost estimation associated with each.
The Engineering Division is responsible for updating Town maps, maintaining and assigning all house numbers, and developing and coordinating the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II stormwater program. We maintain all permits and applications for the Town related to driveways, sidewalks, curbing, street occupancy; water and sewer connections; drainage connections; and stormwater abatements. All of our project designing is greatly aided through the use of our state-of-the-art survey equipment combined with our computer-aided design (CAD) and Geographic Information System (GIS) software, allowing us to be on the leading edge of technology in our field today.
In addition, the Engineering Division is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the painting of all traffic pavement markings including crosswalks, centerlines, parking stalls, and roadway stencils throughout the Town as well as reviewing and inspecting all sub-division and site plans, making sure that compliance is met according to the Town's subdivision rules and regulations.
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Water Tower June 29 2022
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Water Tower 2 June 29, 2022
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Water Tower 3 June 29, 2022
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Haven Street Sewer project
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Surveying Washington Park
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Charles Street pump station during construction
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Digging a water main in 1890
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Old Track Road Bridge
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Track Road Bridge after renovations
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Engineering's latest project, Auburn Street Water Tower
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Engineering's current project, Auburn St. Water Tower
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Crane at the water tank
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Old Water Tower on Auburn St.
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Rendition of new Water Tower
- When is my street going to be paved?
- How do I obtain a plot plan for my property?
- Where on my property are the water and sewer pipes located going into my house?
- What year was my house built?
- How do I obtain a new house number, or how do I change my current house number?
- Can I connect a drain line on my property into the Town’s drainage system?
- What is the procedure to either widen my existing driveway, or to add an additional driveway on my property?
- How do I request to have the underground utilities on my property marked by Dig Safe prior to any excavation?
The Engineering Division has a prioritized list that is used to determine what year your street is scheduled for paving, pending all necessary funding. This list was produced by a private consultant and then approved by the Board of Selectmen. A copy of this list can be viewed in the Engineering Division. General concerns regarding pothole repairs on your street should be directed to the Department of Public Works Highway Division at (781) 942-9092 Monday through Friday, between the hours of 7:00am and 3:00pm.
A plot plan is prepared by a professional land surveyor, and typically depicts lot dimensions, survey information, and buildings found on your property. The Engineering Division has some plot plans from within the Town of Reading. Plot plans that cannot be found at our office can usually be found at the Middlesex County Registry of Deeds in Cambridge. Click here to view and search their website.
A copy of your water and sewer service cards, showing the locations of each, can be obtained in the Engineering Division, located in the lower level of Town Hall.
Typically, a good indicator, as to when your house was built, is by determining when the water was first introduced onto your property. The Engineering Division can provide you with this information. The first water mains in Reading were installed circa 1890.
The Town of Reading Engineering Division has predetermined all of the house numbers for every street in town. Each 35 feet of street frontage has been given a number, which will be the number belonging to the building included in or embracing that frontage. If you are interested in obtaining a new address or changing your current address please contact the Town of Reading Engineering Division.
Yes, but only by a Licensed Drain Layer who is fully insured and bonded with the Town. Also, the homeowner must fill out a “Drain Release Form” along with a diagram showing where the drain line will be connected, and return them both to the Engineering Division before work can be started. A list of Licensed Drain Layers for the Town of Reading can be obtained by either going to the current Drain Layer section of this website or by stopping by calling the Engineering Division.
As stated in the Town of Reading Driveway Rules and Regulations, all proposed driveways or modifications to existing driveways must be submitted for approval to the Department of Public Works Engineering Division. A sketch of the modification must be submitted indicating all trees, hydrants, poles, etc., as well as the gutter grade, property line grade, and proposed grades in sufficient detail to insure compliance with all Driveway Rules and Regulations. If the Engineering Division determines that all of the regulations are met, the proposed driveway alterations may be approved. Any granite curbing removed in the process of making these driveway modifications shall become the property of the Town of Reading. The Town of Reading Driveway Rules and Regulations can be obtained by either going to the “Driveway Construction and Street Opening” section of this website or by stopping by the Engineering Division in the lower level of Town Hall where a copy may be obtained.
Contact Dig Safe at 1-888-DIGSAFE or by visiting their website by clicking here to request a mark out. After contacting Dig Safe, please contact the Engineering Division to locate any water, sewer, and drainage on your property. Typically, for non-emergency situations, we require at least 72 hours notice prior to any excavation. The Engineering Division can be reached at (781) 942-9082, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30am and 5:00pm.