Intersection Redesign: Powder House Boulevard and Alewife Brook Parkway

Following final paving (completed earlier this month), City contractors will be returning to install final thermoplastic pavement marking on the newly-paved sections of roadway.

Weather permitting, this work is expected to take place Mon-Tue, July 22-23. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Construction Impacts:

• On-street parking will be restricted during construction.
  • Please observe posted signage.
• Periodic vehicle detours may be required.
  • Access will be maintained for pedestrians/residents
• Trash/recycling pick-ups and deliveries will not be affected.

Final striping/marking of the roadway, represents the final major milestone in this intersection redesign project. Over the coming weeks, crews will work on to complete any outstanding items and clean up the site.

The project team would like to thank the neighborhood and broader community for their patience and understanding throughout this project.

If you have any questions, please email construction@somervillema.gov or call the Engineering Division at (617) 625-6600 ext. 5400.

Update 7/1: Today's paving has been reschedule for Wednesday, 7/3.

Final paving of roadway surfaces as part of the Powder House Boulevard and Alewife Brook Parkway Intersection Redesign has been rescheduled for Friday, June 28th and Monday, July 1.

Locations of Work and Schedule (Subject to change due to weather or other factors)

Friday 6/28 - COMPLETE

• The intersection of Alewife Brook Parkway and Powder House Blvd. - extending roughly 600 feet in either direction along Alewife Brook Parkway

Monday 7/1 - RESCHEDULED TO 7/3

• Powder House Blvd between North Street and Alewife Brook Parkway

• Powder House Blvd and North Street intersection

• The new residential shared street along Alewife Brook Parkway

Work hours are weekdays, 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Alewife Brook Parkway Eastbound Detour/Powder House Blvd Closure

During work hours, temporary detours and road closures will be in effect:

• Alewife Brook Parkway

  • Eastbound traffic will be detoured right on Broadway, left on North Street, and left on Boston Avenue to return to Alewife Brook Parkway.

  • Westbound traffic will be maintained as usual.

• Powder House Blvd (North Street to Alewife Brook Parkway)

  • Closed to through traffic

    • Access will be maintained for residents during milling.

Pedestrian access will be maintained.

Detours will be in effect during work hours only, approximately 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., on dates when milling and paving is underway.

If you have questions, please email construction@somervillema.gov or call the Engineering Division at (617) 625-6600 ext. 5400 with questions.

Update 6/15: Final paving of the roadway originally schedule for Monday, June 17th has rescheduled to Monday, June 24th.

In the upcoming weeks, City contractors will be milling (removing the top few layers of asphalt) and paving the roadway surface along:

• Powder House Blvd. and North Street Intersection (milling and paving)

• Powder House Blvd between North Street and Alewife Brook Parkway (paving only)

• The intersection of Alewife Brook Parkway and Powder House Blvd. (extending roughly 600 feet in either direction along Alewife Brook Parkway)

• The new residential shared street along Alewife Brook Parkway (paving only)

Schedule of Work

Milling is scheduled to take place this Monday, June 10

Final paving of the roadway is currently scheduled to take place on Monday, June 17.

Work hours are weekdays, 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Schedules are subject to change due to weather or other factors.

Alewife Brook Parkway Eastbound Detour/Powder House Blvd Closure

During work hours, temporary detours and road closures will be in effect:

• Alewife Brook Parkway

  • Eastbound traffic will be detoured right on Broadway, left on North Street, and left on Boston Avenue to return to Alewife Brook Parkway.

  • Westbound traffic will be maintained as usual.

• Powder House Blvd (North Street to Alewife Brook Parkway)

  • Closed to through traffic

    • Access will be maintained for residents during milling.

Pedestrian access will be maintained.

Detours will be in effect during work hours only, approximately 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., on dates when milling and paving is underway.

If you have questions, please email construction@somervillema.gov or call the Engineering Division at (617) 625-6600 ext. 5400 with questions.

Weather permitting, tomorrow, Tuesday, May 14, City contractors, R.M. Pacella will be constructing a raised crosswalk at the entrance of the new Alewife Brook Parkway residential shared street.

To facilitate this work, access to the new residential shared street from Powder House Boulevard will be restricted until Thursday, May 16.

• During this time, we ask that residents please access the street via the emergency entrance from Alewife Brook Parkway.
  Work hours are weekdays, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Schedules are subject to change due to weather or other factors.

Additional Construction Impacts:

• Some on-street parking may be temporarily restricted.
  • Please observe posted signage.
• Trash/recycling pick-ups, deliveries will not be affected.

If you have questions, please call the Engineering Division at 617-625-6600 ext. 5400 or email construction@somervillema.gov.

Crews plan to mobilize in mid-May to begin work on the final phase of the Powder House Blvd. and Alewife Brook Pwky. Intersection Redesign project.

Remaining construction activities include:

• Electrical and lighting installations
• Remaining curbing and sidewalk installations (Includes raised concrete entrance of new residential street.)
• Planting new trees and other greenery
• Final paving of the roadway (Additional notification to provided ahead of paving.)
• Pavement marking and signage installation

Some temporary parking restrictions will be in place during work hours.

Substantial completion of this project is currently planned for this summer. Some temporary detours will be required during work hours for certain construction activities.

If you have questions, please email construction@somervillema.gov or call the Engineering Division at 617-625-6600 ext. 5400.

New traffic signal equipment at the intersection of Alewife Brook Parkway and Powder House Boulevard has been activated, marking a significant milestone in the intersection redesign project.

Initial Temporary Signal Configuration

Following activation, there will be an approximately two week period where signals are in a temporary configuration.

• Flashing yellow to traffic approaching from Alewife Brook Pkwy.
  • Indicates people driving should proceed with caution
• Flashing red to traffic approaching from Powder House Blvd.
  • Indicates people driving should come to a complete stop before proceeding when it is safe to do so
• The current signalization crosswalk across Alewife Brook Parkway to the west of the intersection will remain in place throughout this period.
  • New pedestrian signals/crossing will not be turned on/active during this temporary configuration.

Regular Signal Configuration

Following the approximately 2 week temporary configuration, signal equipment will be switched to its regular (green, yellow, red) configuration.

• At this stage, pedestrian signals will be turned on and new crossings will be activated.
  • Old signalized crossing across Alewife Brook Pkwy will be deactivated at this stage

Please observe all signals/signage and proceed with caution while navigating through the intersection.

If you have questions, please email construction@somervillema.gov or call the Engineering Division at 617-625-6600 ext. 5400.

Update 12/22 - Signal Activation Pending Final Inspection

City Contractors have completed installation of all new signal equipment at the intersection. Activation of the signal is contingent upon final electrical inspections, and coordination with Eversource Electric.

The project team is actively prioritizing these final steps. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work toward this this milestone in the intersection redesign process

City contractors are in the process of installing new traffic signal equipment at the intersection of Alewife Brook Parkway and Powder House Boulevard as part of the City’s intersection redesign project.

We expect installation will be complete and signals to be turned on within approximately the next 1-2 weeks.

Initial Temporary Signal Configuration

After signals are turned on, there will be an approximately 2 week period where they are configured as follows:

• Flashing yellow to traffic approaching from Alewife Brook Pkwy.
  • Indicates people driving should proceed with caution.
• Flashing red to traffic approaching from Powder House Blvd.
  • Indicates people driving should come to a complete stop before proceeding when it is safe to do so.
• The current signalized crosswalk across Alewife Brook Parkway to the west of the intersection will remain in place throughout this period.
  • New pedestrian signals/crossing will not be turned on/active during this temporary configuration.

Regular Signal Configuration

Following the approximately 2 week temporary configuration, signal equipment will be switched to its regular (green, yellow, red) configuration.

• At this stage, pedestrian signals will be turned on and new crossings will be activated.
  • Old signalized crossing along Alewife Brook Parkway will be deactivated at this stage

Please observe all signals/signage and proceed with caution while navigating through the intersection.

If you have questions, please email construction@somervillema.gov or call the Engineering Division at 617-625-6600 ext. 5400.

Since installing a new traffic pattern and transforming the former rotary into a new T-shaped intersection, City Contractors have been hard at work building new sidewalks and a residential shared street along Alewife Brook Pkwy.

(Chicanes on new shared street)

(New sidewalks along Powder House Blvd lead to T-shaped intersection with Alewife Brook Pkwy.)

Work is expected to continue through the fall prior to breaking for the winter and resuming in spring of 2024.

Remaining work includes:

If you have questions, please email construction@somervillema.gov or call the Engineering Division at 617-625-6600 ext. 5400.

Beginning on Tuesday, July 25 or soon after, City contractors will install a 3-way stop at the intersection of Alewife Brook Parkway and Powder House Boulevard as part of the City’s intersection redesign project.

New Traffic Pattern

City contractors are in the process of reconstructing the existing traffic circle to create a T-shaped intersection.

• Stop signs will be installed in all three directions, while awaiting the installation and electrification of new traffic signal equipment.

  • Video message boards and signage along Alewife Brook Parkway will be in place to inform driveways of the new pattern.

  • Traffic along Alewife Brook Parkway in both directions will be reduced to one lane approaching the intersection.

  • Orange construction barrels along work zones will be in place along workzones.

• This new traffic pattern will also create a new shared street between 269 and 294 Alewife Brook Parkway.

  • A shared street is a low-volume residential street that prioritizes people walking, rolling, and biking.

  • This street is intended for residents/emergency vehicles only and is not a thruway.
    
    

Pedestrian Access

The current signalized crosswalk across Alewife Brook Parkway to the west of the intersection will remain in place throughout construction.

If you have questions, please email construction@somervillema.gov or call the Engineering Division at 617-625-6600 ext. 5400.

Over recent months, City contractors have been working on improvements to drainage and sewer infrastructure along Alewife Brook Pkwy. and Powder House Blvd. Drainage and sewer work will continue along Alewife Brook Pkwy. over the coming weeks.

Preliminary Paving on Powder House Blvd.

Underground utility work is substantially complete along Powder House Blvd. City contractors will be performing preliminary paving between North St. and Alewife Brook Pkwy. on Thursday, July 6 (weather permitting).

July 6 - Paving Impacts

• On-street parking will be restricted during construction. Please observe posted signage.
• Periodic road closure during paving.
  • Access will be maintained for residents.
• Access to your driveway may be temporarily restricted.
  • Onsite crews are available to help you get in and out of your driveway if needed.
• Trash/recycling pick-ups and deliveries will not be affected.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your patience as we work to create safer roadway conditions for all users and upgrade aging underground infrastructure.

If you have questions, please email construction@somervillema.gov or call the Engineering Division at (617) 625-6600 ext. 5400 with questions.