Spring Hill Sewer Separation Project

Weather permitting, beginning Sunday, September 15 at 8 p.m. the City of Somerville’s contractor, D&R Paving will pave the two travel lanes (approximately 28-feet wide) of Highland Avenue between School Street and Benton Road.

(This update focuses exclusively on paving along Highland Avenue. For more on work happening elsewhere in the neighborhood, see previous update.)

This partial paving, which does not include the parking areas next to the curbs, is intended to restore the road surface travel areas. This is an interim measure to support safe travel for all users of the road until the full redesign and reconstruction of Highland Avenue.

Anticipated Schedule:

Paving will take place overnight:

• beginning Sunday, September 15, at approximately 8 p.m.

• ending Monday, September 16 at approximately 7 a.m.

Street paint and pavement markings will take place in the weeks following paving.

Schedules are subject to change due to weather or other factors.

Highland Ave. Road Closure

During paving operations, Highland Avenue will be closed to motor vehicle traffic in both directions.

• Detour signage will be in place for motor vehicle traffic.
• Pedestrian access will be maintained via both sidewalks.
• Access will be maintained for MBTA buses and emergency vehicles at all times.

Other Construction Impacts

• On-street parking will be restricted during construction.
  • Please observe posted signage.
• Some elevated noise levels typical of construction
• Access to driveways on Highland Ave. between School Street and Benton Road will temporarily be restricted during paving.

• 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 improve our city’s streets.

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

As we prepare to pave the second stretch of Highland Avenue (School Street to Benton Road), work continues elsewhere in the neighborhood. (See subsequent update for more on Highland Ave. paving plans).

More information about ongoing/remaining work can be found below.

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

Underground Utility Improvements

Over the coming weeks, City contractors will finish work on utility upgrades on lower Summer Street (School St. to Bow St.).

• Summer Street (School St. to Bow St.) - Installation of new sewer, drainage, and water utilities is complete.

  • Crews are now working to install the final remaining water services (connections between individual properties and the new water main) between Bow and School Streets. This work is expected to be completed within 2-3 weeks.

This work is the final piece of major subsurface utility improvements within the project. Following completion of utility improvements, crews will begin preliminary work to restore and improve the streetscape on lower Summer Street (School St. to Bow St.)

Streetscape Construction Activities

• Central Street (Summer St. to Highland Ave.) - Crews are actively working to build new sidewalks and cycle tracks along the new one-way (northbound toward Highland Avenue) Central Street. This work is expected to continue through the fall.

  • Crews are finishing installation of new sidewalks on the east side of the street and setting new curb on the west side. Construction of new cycle tracks with cobble buffers is also underway.

  • Installation of new raised crossings at the intersections of Central Street/Oxford Street and Central Street/Berkeley Street is expected to take place in the next 1-2 weeks.

• School Street (Highland Ave to Summer Street) - Final paving on School Street is expected to take place later this year. Residents will be notified via flyer and city alert.

• Summer Street (School St. to Spring St.) - Final streetscape improvements are underway on Summer Street ahead of final paving later this fall (notification will be provided ahead of paving).

  • Traffic signal work at the intersections of Summer Street/School Street and Summer Street/Central is currently underway.

  • Westbound bike lane - The bike lane has been paved, but remains closed until pavement markings are installed. This work is expected to take place in the coming weeks.

Schedule and Construction Impacts

• Work hours for both streetscape and utility activities are weekdays 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. All work is weather dependent and schedules are subject to change.

• Traffic Management - Temporary detours and street closures will be required during work hours.

  • Access will be maintained for residents at all times.

    • If access to your home is temporarily blocked, on-site crews are available to assist by moving signage, equipment, temporary plating trenches, etc.

    • Any temporary restrictions to driveway access will be communicated to individual properties by contractors in advance.

• Parking Restrictions - On-street parking may be temporarily restricted around work zones during construction.

  • Please observe posted signage.

Have questions?

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

Update 8/22: The closure of School Street in place yesterday and this morning is expected to continue today through approximately noon after which point crews will reopen School Street to through traffic and proceed west along Highland Ave.

---------------------

Weather permitting, beginning Wednesday 8/21 or soon after, City contractors will begin preparations for a second stretch of paving along Highland Avenue. This second paving operation will cover the stretch of roadway between School Street and Benton Road.

This partial paving, which does not include the parking areas next to the curbs, is intended to restore the road surface travel areas. This is an interim measure to support safe travel for all users of the road until the full redesign and reconstruction of Highland Avenue.

This work will require eastbound traffic on Highland Avenue to be detoured during work hours.

All businesses will remain open and accessible during construction.

More information, including an anticipated schedule of activities and full detour map, is included below.

Anticipated Schedule

• Wednesday, 8/21 through Wednesday, 8/28
  • installing temporary asphalt to repair areas where excavation took place previously
  • milling (removing the top few layers of asphalt) the roadway in preparation for paving
• Thursday, 8/29 through early September
  • Adjust castings (manhole covers and other in-ground structures) to final height for paving
• Early to mid-September
  • Paving of the road’s travel areas
    • Overnight paving expected, additional notification will be provided once the date is finalized

Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. All schedules are subject to change due to weather or other factors.

Eastbound Detour and Other Construction Impacts

During preparations for paving, Highland Avenue will be closed to eastbound vehicle traffic between Benton Road and School Street to facilitate work.

Eastbound Traffic Detour (Work Hours, Weekdays 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.)

Eastbound traffic on Highland Avenue will be detoured north on Lowell Street and east on Medford Street before reconnecting with Highland Avenue.

Westbound travel will be maintained as usual.

Pedestrian and Transit Impacts

Some sidewalk access may be restricted at times. At least one sidewalk will remain open at all times.

MBTA buses and emergency vehicles will be allowed to proceed in both directions.

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

Update 8/14: This work has been rescheduled and is now expected to take place on Monday, August 19.

Weather permitting, the City of Somerville’s General Contractor, P. Gioioso & Sons Inc. will install a final layer of asphalt on Summer Street’s westbound bicycle lane between School Street and Spring Street on Friday, August 16 between approximately 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Final paving of the remainder of the roadway is expected to take place this fall.

Following final paving of the rest of the roadway, the bicycle lane will be completed with high-friction green paint/markings.

Construction impacts:

• Access to driveways on the odd-numbered side of the street will be temporarily restricted while the asphalt cures/dries
  • Asphalt is expected to be dry by approximately 5 p.m. on the day of installation.
• On-street parking will be restricted during construction.
  • Please observe posted signage.
• Periodic road closure during paving.
  • Access will be maintained for residents.
• Trash/recycling pickups and deliveries will not be affected.

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

Beginning on or around Monday, July 29th, 2024, the City’s Spring Hill contractor will begin upgrading the signalized intersections at Central Street and Summer Street, and School Street and Summer Street.

New standardized signals will be installed with new emergency vehicle pre-emption equipment (equipment that prioritizes getting emergency vehicles through intersections as efficiently and safely as possible).

What is happening?

The existing, aging signal infrastructure will be dismantled and stop signs will be installed as a temporary measure to control and maintain traffic during these signal upgrades. We anticipate this work to occur over the next four weeks

Now that Central Street has become a one-way northbound street (between Summer St. and Highland Ave), along with the current one-way condition of School Street, each of these intersections will become 3-way stops while under construction. Illustrations of each of these temporary configurations is included below.

Signage will be in place to alert people traveling through the neighborhood to the change in condition.

Summer St. at Central St. - Temporary Configuration

Summer St. at School St. - Temporary Configuration

Construction Impacts

• Periodic lane shifts and/or detours to accommodate the work to upgrade the signals.

• Parking restrictions may be in place near intersections to facilitate this work.

  • Please observe posted signage.

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

Following the conversion of Central Street to one-way northbound travel and the first stretch of interim paving of Highland Avenue. City contractors are nearing completion of the final underground utility work (lower Summer Street) of the project and continuing work on streetscapes around the neighborhood.

Underground Utility Improvements

Over the coming weeks, City contractors will be actively working on utility upgrades on lower Summer Street (School St. to Bow St.). Meanwhile, Eversource gas contractors continue their work on Highland Avenue. Additional information on each of these efforts is included below.

• Summer Street (School St. to Bow St.) - Installation of new sewer and drainage utilities is complete. Work to complete installation of the new water main is expected to be finished within the next 2-3 weeks.

  • Once the new water main is fully installed, crews will install water services (connections between individual properties and the new water main) between Bow and School Streets. This work is expected to continue through August.

• Highland Ave. (Central St. to School St.) - Eversource Gas installation of new gas utilities is currently underway.

  • Eversource has completed installation of the new gas main. Crews are now working on installing new services (connections between individuals properties and the new gas main).

    • This work is expected to continue through mid-August requiring eastbound traffic on Highland Ave. to be detoured via Central St. and Medford St.

  • Once work is complete, preparation will begin for partial, interim paving of Highland Avenue between Benton Road and School Street.

Streetscape Construction Activities

Crews have worked throughout the spring and early summer to set new curbing and reconstruct sidewalks along School Street. Following completion of new sidewalks on School Street, crews will turn their attention to reconstructing Central Street with new sidewalks and a cycle track in each direction.

Meanwhile crews will be restoring sidewalks affected by previous utility work on Highland Avenue between School St. and McGrath Hwy and preparing Summer Street for final paving. More details on all of these efforts below.

• School Street (Highland Ave to Summer Street) - Sidewalk reconstruction work on School Street is expected to be complete within the next 1-2 weeks.

  • Final paving on School Street will take place later this year. Residents will be notified via flyer and city alert.

• Central Street (Summer St. to Highland Ave.) - Following the completion of sidewalk work on School Street, crews will turn their attention to Central Street.

  • Beginning the week of 7/22 or soon after, crews will begin setting the new curb line and constructing new sidewalks and cycle tracks.

• Highland Avenue (McGrath Hwy to School St.) - Following interim paving, crews will be working to restore any segments of sidewalk that were previously excavated during utility work.

  • Striping of the newly paved roadway and repainting of the crosswalks is also expected in the next approximately 2 weeks. (Temporary markings are currently in place.)

• Summer Street (School St. to Spring St.) - Now that trees have been planted and the new irrigation system is nearly complete, crews are working to prepare the new westbound bike lane for final paving.

  • Westbound bike lane - Expected installation of final layer of asphalt in early-August.

  • Summer Street roadway - Final paving on Summer Street will take place this fall. Residents will be notified via flyer and city alert.

    • Prior to final paving crews will remove traffic signals at the intersection of Central Street and Summer Street and replace it with a 3-way stop-sign controlled intersection. Additional notification will be provided to the neighborhood ahead of this change.

Schedule and Construction Impacts

• Work hours for both streetscape and utility activities are weekdays 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. All work is weather dependent and schedules are subject to change.

• Traffic Management - Temporary detours and street closures will be required during work hours.

  • Access will be maintained for residents at all times.

    • If access to your home is temporarily blocked, on-site crews are available to assist by moving signage, equipment, temporary plating trenches, etc.

    • Any temporary restrictions to driveway access will be communicated to individual properties by contractors in advance.

• Parking Restrictions - On-street parking may be temporarily restricted around work zones during construction.

  • Please observe posted signage.

Have questions?

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

Weather permitting, beginning Wednesday, July 10 at 8 p.m. the City of Somerville’s contractor, D&R Paving will undertake the first of two mobilizations for paving the two travel lanes (approximately 28-feet wide) of Highland Avenue between McGrath Hwy and Benton Road. This first mobilization will cover the segment of roadway between McGrath Hwy and School Street.

A second Highland Avenue paving mobilization is expected to take place later this summer, upon completion of Eversource’s Gas Main Upgrade project on Highland Avenue (Central St. to School St.). This second mobilization will cover the segment of roadway between School Street and Benton Road.

This partial paving, which does not include the parking areas next to the curbs, is intended to restore the road surface travel areas. This is an interim measure to support safe travel for all users of the road until the full redesign and reconstruction of Highland Avenue.

Mobilization #1 - Anticipated Schedule

Paving will take place overnight:

• beginning Wednesday, July 10 at approximately 8 p.m.

• ending Thursday, July 11 at approximately 7 a.m.

Schedules are subject to change due to weather or other factors.

Motor Vehicle Detour

During paving operations, Highland Avenue will be closed to motor vehicle traffic in both directions.

• Pedestrian access will be maintained via both sidewalks.

Other Construction Impacts

• On-street parking will be restricted during construction. Please observe posted signage
• Access to driveways on Highland Ave. between School and McGrath will temporarily be restricted during paving.
• Onsite crews are available and may be able to help you get in and out of your driveway if needed.
• Access will be maintained for MBTA buses and emergency vehicles at all times.
• 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 improve our city’s infrastructure.

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

Update 7/3: Weather permitting, paving of Highland Avenue (mobilization #1 - McGrath Highway to School Street) will take place overnight on Wednesday (7/10) beginning at approximately 8 p.m., and ending at approximately 7 a.m. on Thursday (7/11)

More details including a full detour map will be available shortly and posted on this page.

City contractors will be paving the two travel lanes of the roadway (approximately 28-feet wide) along Highland Avenue between McGrath Highway and Benton Road.

This partial paving, which does not include the parking areas next to the curbs, is intended to restore the road surface travel areas. This is an interim measure to support safe travel for all users of the road until the full redesign and reconstruction of Highland Avenue.

Preparations for paving are currently underway. A description of operations and our anticipated scheduled is included below.

Paving Plan

Contractors will be paving this segment of Highland Avenue in two mobilizations.

• Mobilization 1 - Highland Avenue between McGrath Highway and School Street. ‘

• Mobilization 2 - Highland Avenue between School Street and Benton Road

Paving Schedule

Each mobilization will involve two phases of work:

• Preparing for paving

  • milling (removing the top few layers of asphalt) of the roadway and installing temporary asphalt

  • adjusting castings (raising/lower the coverings/tops of inground utility access points such as manhole covers)

• Paving

  • Installing a new roadway surface (two travel lanes of the roadway, approximately 28-feet wide)

Mobilization #1 (McGrath to School) Schedule

• Preparation for paving - Beginning week of 6/24 and continuing through early July

• Paving

  • Expected to take place mid-July;

    • additional notification and information will be provided to the neighborhood once date is confirmed

  • Paving is not expected to take more than 1-2 days.

Mobilization #2 (School to Benton) Schedule

• Currently expected to take place later this summer, upon completion of Eversource’s Gas Main Upgrade project on Highland Avenue (Central St. to School St.)

  • Additional notification will be provided prior to this mobilization.

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

Weather permitting, city contractors will execute plans to convert the segment of Central Street between Summer Street and Highland Avenue to become a permanently one-way northbound street for vehicle traffic.

Initial Phase of Central Street Construction

During the initial phase construction, Central Street will be closed during work hours (typically weekdays, 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.) until the first layer of asphalt is installed. Access will be retained for residents and notification will be provided prior to paving.

Please observe all posted signage and parking restrictions.

• Monday-Thursday (6/17-6/20)- Grading of the street and other preparation for paving

• Friday (6/21) – Paving of preliminary binder course of asphalt

Week of 6/17 - Central Street Northbound Detour

While Central Street is closed during work hours, northbound traffic will be detoured west on Summer Street and north on Lowell Street before connecting with Highland Avenue.

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

Preliminary Traffic Impact Analysis (Central Street and Surrounding Neighborhood)

During the design phase of the Spring Hill Sewer Separation project, the City made the decision, informed by community process, to convert Central Street between Summer Street and Highland Avenue to a one-way street for northbound motor vehicle traffic. This new design will create safer conditions for all users of the road.

As this change to Central Street goes into effect (currently anticipated for 6/17), the City’s Mobility Division has prepared a summary of the City’s analysis of the traffic impacts of this change, particularly on Benton Road, and an outline of our process and potential alternatives as we move forward.

Central Street One-Way Conversion Analysis

Update 5/23: This change is now expected to go into effect the week of June 17th or soon after.

Beginning on Monday, June 10 or soon after, the segment of Central Street between Summer Street and Highland Avenue will become a permanently one-way northbound street for vehicle traffic.

Over the summer and fall, construction crews will be working to

• construct a new 12-foot-wide travel lane

• install sidewalk-level cycle tracks in each direction

• prepare tree pits for new plantings

• and deliver additional streetscape improvements.

This work follows the installation of new water, sewer, and drainage utilities along the same stretch of Central Street last fall.

About the Conversion to One-Way

City contractors will install required signage associated with this change prior to implementation. Variable message boards will also be placed at key points along Central Street and Highland Avenue to alert people to change in traffic pattern.

During the initial phase construction, Central Street will be closed during work hours (typically weekdays, 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.) until the first layer of asphalt is installed. Access will be retained for residents and notification will be provided prior to paving. Afterwards, the roadway will reopen during normal business hours while construction continues.

Emergency services and other City Operations were consulted during the design process and have been notified of the implementation timeline.

Parking will no longer be permitted on the odd-numbered side of the road.

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