Welcome back to the City of Somerville's construction newsletter!

Elevated cycle track on the eastern side of Central Street (Highland Ave. to Summer St.) being prepared for installation of its porous asphalt surface.

Fall is here so grab a cider donut and settle in because there is a lot of work to be done to improve our city's infrastructure before winter.

As always, if you have any questions about the work below (or any work in the city) please don't hesitate to reach out to us at

construction@somervillema.gov

What We're Sharing This Month: 

• Spring Hill Sewer Separation Update - Paving on Summer Street
• West Washington Reconstruction - Nearing Project Limits
• Pavement and Sidewalk Management - Intersection Improvements
• Sewer Rehab in West Somerville - Approaching Completion
• Subterranean Somerville: Dilboy Auxiliary Field Renovation

Earlier this month, we reached a major project milestone–the completion of the final piece of major underground utility work. Over the last two and a half years, crews have worked to upgrade sewer, drainage, and water utilities throughout the neighborhood. 

The completion of this work represents a major step forward in our ongoing efforts to reduce flooding across the city and reduce pollution in local waterways.

Lower Summer Street prepared to receive a new course of asphalt this week.

What's Next?

With major subsurface work now complete, crews are now focused exclusively on remaining work above ground–finishing rebuilding and improving the neighborhood’s streets.

Lower Summer Street 

Following paving curb-to-curb with an initial binder course of asphalt, sidewalk reconstruction will begin on the south side of the street and continue through the fall as weather allows.

Upper Summer Street

Crews are preparing for final paving on upper Summer Street (School to Spring). Paving is currently expected to take place mid-late October. Additional information on a milling/paving schedule will be shared with the community shortly.

Central Street

Sidewalk and cycle track construction continues with crews currently installing a cobble buffer between the cycle track and bike lane on the eastern side of the street. Starting as early as next week, crews will begin relocating curbs on the western side of the street and reconstructing sidewalks.

Crews install cobble buffer between the new cycle track and sidewalk on the eastern side of Central Street

Other Project Streets 

Final paving on Berkeley Street, Avon Street, and Westwood is also expected to take place later this fall. 

Final paving on Oxford Street, Hersey Street, and Central Street is now expected to take place in Spring 2025. 

Work on Washington Street is approaching the western limits of the project at Line Street.

Crews are working to complete final sidewalk reconstruction along the north side of the street between Dane Street and Beacon Street and on both sides of the street between Beacon Street and Line Street.

Work will continue over the coming weeks, with final paving expected to take place before the end of fall.

Work in progress showing separated cycle track and new floating bus stop.

Rendering of final design concept

What other work remains?

• Milling and paving of the roadway surface between Bowdoin Street and Line Street.
• Detours and MBTA bus stop impacts will be required during this phase of work. Additional notification will be provided to residents.
• Additional raised crossings and floating bus stops.
• Completion of street- and sidewalk-level protected bike lanes.
• Existing cycle track remains under construction pending a final layer of asphalt and pavement markings.
• New signs and pavement markings.
• New pedestrian signals and push buttons at the Washington Street, Dane and Calvin intersection.
• among other safety improvements.



Additional notification will be provided to the community ahead of paving. Info will be shared at somervillema.gov/westernwashington and through other City channels. 

Last month, we shared an overview of our Paving and Sidewalk Management Program (complete with an interactive map to see which streets have been paved recently and which are up next). 

This month we want to highlight some of the targeted intersection improvements that are currently underway.

Cameron Avenue - New Raised Intersection

Cameron Avenue is over 1,600 feet long and only has crosswalks at Holland Street and at the Community Path (in Cambridge). It also has one of the highest rates of speeding vehicles of any Somerville street where speed and volume data has been collected. 

To improve safety for people crossing the City is installing a new raised intersection with two new crosswalks.

New raised intersection slows vehicles and provides accessible crossings.

Broadway at Boston Avenue

As the main connection to the new Ball Square Green Line station, the intersection of Broadway and Boston Avenue is a key part of the City's pedestrian network.

Over recent weeks crews have been working to increase safety and accessibility at the station by extending the sidewalk to reduce crossing distance and leveling slopes to improve accessibility.

New curb-extension and reconstructed sidewalk at Broadway/Boston Avenue

Learn more about other planned intersection improvement projects at somervillema.gov/intersectionimprovements. 

Since June crews have been working to rehabilitate sewers throughout west Somerville. At this stage we have completed all open-trench (requiring digging) repairs and have one remaining segment of pipe to rehabilitate via flexible lining/coating.

Over the coming weeks, crews will be returning to the streets where work took place earlier to complete remaining minor items. This work should last no longer than a few hours in any particularly location and will not affect residents' sewer service.

Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) on Fairfax Street

As part of this sewer rehabilitation work, crews have installed new green stormwater infrastructure at the corner of Fairfax Street and Alewife Brook Parkway.

What is GSI? GSI systems help Somerville to manage stormwater by mimicking the natural environment and processes. 

GSI uses natural materials, including soil, plants, and stone to reduce the amount of stormwater that enters the sewer system. This helps prevent pollutants from entering nearby waterways and keeps our environment healthy. 

2-inch-wide sand-slits will be installed every 6 inches with a minimum depth of 14 inches. These slits are filled with engineered sand that increases the rate at which stormwater is moved through the field's underlying irrigation system.

The sand is engineered to encourage the field's grass to take root, resulting in a natural playing surface that will be readily available for play.

Visit the project website to learn more and stay up to date as work progresses.

There is a lot of work being done in Somerville as we look to modernize and improve our city’s infrastructure, and we can’t cover it all in one email.

Stay up-to-date with what’s going on in your neighborhood and around the city via the following channels: 

• Sign up for City Alerts - Receive important notifications about work in your area.

• Follow us on Twitter - Tweets about curb-cuts, culverts, and more.

• Visit our new construction page - A comprehensive look at work across the city.

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