Intersection Redesign: Powder House Boulevard and Alewife Brook Parkway

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.

February 2023 Community Meeting

Wednesday, February 1, at 6:00 p.m.

Please join us for a virtual community meeting to learn more about this project. Topics to be covered include:

• Review of the final design and planned improvements
• Overview of the construction process and timeline
• Neighborhood Q&A session with City staff

Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0Aeckje5S32OytNVWGufKQ

Project information also available in the following languages:

• Español
• Portugues
• Kreyòl Ayisyen
• नेपाली
• 简体中文
• Traditional Chinese

Interpretation into Portuguese, Spanish, Haitian Kreyol, Nepali, Mandarin, Cantonese, or other languages may be available upon advance request by contacting the SomerViva Office of Immigrant Affairs at somerviva@somervillema.gov(External link) or calling 311 at 617-666-3311.

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City or to attend meetings, should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Adrienne Pomeroy, at 617-625-6600 ext. 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov(External link).

Over the coming weeks, City contractors will begin work to reconstruct and improve the intersection of Powder House Boulevard. and Alewife Brook Parkway. This project will redesign the existing traffic circle to create a T-shaped intersection with traffic signals--in order to create safer roadway conditions for all people walking, wheeling, biking, and driving. This project will also include rehabilitation of aging underground infrastructure.

Anticipated Work Schedule (subject to change):

Construction is expected to begin sometime in the coming weeks and continue through the fall of 2024. Work will take place weekdays between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

For more information and to stay up to date:

• Attend our upcoming construction community meeting (details forthcoming, anticipated late January)

• Make sure you are signed up for city alerts to receive notification of construction impacts (traffic detours, sewer rehabilitation, etc.)

• Check this page for periodic updates and important notifications

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

Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or ADA@somervillema.gov.

Handouts available in:

• English
• Español
• Português
• Kreyòl Ayisyen
• 繁體中文版

• नेपाली

• 简体中文版

The City will begin reconstructing the intersection of Alewife Brook Parkway and Powder House Boulevard this year. The project will redesign the existing traffic circle to create a ‘T’ shaped intersection with traffic signals to control the flow of vehicles, upgrade aging underground infrastructure, and create safer roadway conditions for all people walking, wheeling, biking, and driving.

The current intersection is a high crash location in the City's Vision Zero Action Plan, with 48 crashes from the past 7 years (2014-2021).

The goals of the project are to improve safety for everyone traveling along the road; enhance pedestrian and bicycle connections; improve access for residents; slow drivers; and retain green space and trees.

The design includes a new "Shared Street" that incorporates a raised crosswalk at the entrance, plantings, bump-outs, and other traffic calming measures. Shared Streets are low volume residential streets where people walking and wheeling are prioritized over cars.

Construction is scheduled to begin later in 2022 and completed in 2024. To stay up to date on construction, sign up for City Alerts available via phone call, text, or email and in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Kreyol, Nepali, Traditional and Simplified Chinese.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at transportation@somervillema.gov or come visit us at our pop-up on our rescheduled date of Thursday, September 1, from 2:00pm to 5:00pm at the intersection of Powder House Boulevard and Hardan Road.

The City is continuing to advance design for the project to reconstruct the intersection of Alewife Brook Parkway and Powder House Boulevard. The project will upgrade aging underground infrastructure and create safer roadway conditions for people walking, wheeling, biking, and driving. The design includes a new "Shared Street" that incorporates a raised crosswalk at the entrances, plantings, "bump-outs," and other traffic calming measures.

The project team is looking for more input from direct abutters of the new shared street. Please share your input in this survey and check out this handout that describes some of the proposed changes and projected timeline. For any questions, please reach out to transportation@somervillema.gov.

The City and the consultant team are continuing to work on design of the new intersection. In July, City staff held a public meeting with direct abutters of the project. The presentation from that meeting is posted under the Presentations section on this page. The current design concept includes the creation of a new residential shared street in front of several homes that currently border Alewife Brook Parkway. A residential shared street is a street where pedestrians and bicyclists are prioritized. Cars are still allowed on the street, but the design communicates that drivers are not the primary road users – signage alerts drivers to expect pedestrians to be using the street space, and physical traffic calming elements (such as speed humps, plantings, or bends in the road) are used to ensure slow driving. For more information on shared streets, check out this resource and review the public meeting presentation to abutters.

In addition to creating more space for walking and rolling, this new residential shared street would provide a direct and safe connection between the neighborhood and the newly designed greenspace area on the south side of Alewife Brook Parkway. This greenspace area would be an enlargement and enhancement of the existing traffic island. Currently, given the two lanes of traffic that separate the neighborhood from the existing island, it’s not a usable greenspace for the neighborhood. This project would address that, and would make the traffic island usable park space for our City.

If you have questions or comments on the current concept, don’t hesitate to reach out to City staff.