July Construction Update

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.