Spring Hill Sewer Separation Project

Starting on Tuesday, September 26 or soon after, eastbound traffic on Highland Ave. between School St. and Hamlet St. will be detoured during work hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays) for approximately 3 weeks (weather permitting).

This detour will enable City contractors to complete the installation of new underground utilities along School St. (Summer St. to Highland Ave) by allowing crews to work safely in the intersection of Highland Ave. and School St.

All businesses will remain open and accessible during construction.

Eastbound Traffic Detour

Eastbound traffic on Highland Ave. will be detoured north on Central St. and east on Medford St. before reconnecting with Highland Ave.

Westbound travel will be maintained as usual. Northbound traffic along Walnut St. will be allowed to proceed while the detour is in place.

Pedestrian and Transit Impacts

Some sidewalk access may be restricted at times. However, temporary sidewalks will be installed to maintain accessibility.

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.

Completion of Highland Ave. Mainline Utility Installation - Final Days of Detour

Weather permitting, crews are expected to complete installation of new water and sewer mainline utilities along Highland Ave. (Walnut St. to School St.) early next week.

The final phases of this work will take place in the intersection of Highland and School St. and require the current eastbound detour to remain in place Monday/Tuesday (8/28-29).

Water Service Installations - Highland Ave. (Putnam St. to School St.)

Following completion of the mainline utility installation, crews will begin installing water services (connections between individuals properties and the new utilities). This work can be completed with smaller, more concentrated work zones and will not require the full eastbound detour to be in place. Instead lane shifts will enable traffic to proceed around the work zone in both directions.

After all water services have been installed, crews will repave the trenches (portions of the roadway where excavation took place) and the installation of new utilities on Highland Ave. will be complete. We currently anticipate this will take place sometime during the week of 9/4 or 9/11.

Have questions?

Please email construction@somervillema.gov or call the Engineering Division at 617-625-6600 ext. 5400.

Construction crews continue to make progress on the utility and streetscape improvements around Spring Hill.. Below is an overview of currently ongoing and future work.

Underground Utility Improvements Highland Ave. (School St. to Walnut St.) - Crews have made good progress throughout the summer and are nearing completion of new water and sewer mainline installation. Service crews will be connecting individual properties to the new utilities over the coming weeks. School St. (Summer St. to Highland Ave.) - Work is expected to continue over the coming months on School St. as crews install new sewer, drainage, and water utilities. School Street will remain closed to through traffic (residents access will be retained). Westwood Rd. - Installation of new drainage and water utilities is expected to begin Aug 30. or soon after. The temporary water main bypass will remain until the new water utilities are installed for new permanent water service connections.

(Excavation and utility installation underway on Highland Ave.)

Surface and Streetscape Restoration Avon St. - New sidewalks have been installed along Avon St. Remaining work (date tbd) on Avon St. includes installation of a bioretention basin behind 124 Summer St. and new tree plantings. Once this work is scheduled, the City will provide another update. Summer St. (School St. to Spring St.) - Crews have started installing new sidewalks and irrigation utilities along Summer St–starting at School St. and moving west toward Spring St. Sidewalk installation work will continue over the coming weeks. Future streetscape work on Summer St. (School St. to Spring St.) includes a new cycle track, traffic calming, and green infrastructure. Oxford St. - Crews have completed sidewalk restoration work, and the roadway has been paved with the initial asphalt binder course. The remaining surface work (i.e., final paving of the roadway, tree plantings) are anticipated to occur next spring, 2024.

(New sidewalk installation on Summer St.)

Have questions?

Please email construction@somervillema.gov or call the Engineering Division at 617-625-6600 ext. 5400.

Weather permitting, Thursday, June 29, City contractors will repave Summer St. between Central St. and School St. and Oxford St. between Trull Ln. and Central St. as part of the Spring Hill Sewer Separation Project.

Anticipated Schedule (subject to change):

Work hours are weekdays between approximately 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Construction Impacts:

• On-street parking will be restricted during paving. Please observe posted signage.

• Road will be closed during paving.

  • Access will be maintained for residents. Some coordination with on-site crews or police details may be required.

• Access to your driveway may be temporarily restricted.

  • Onsite crews are available to help you get in and out of your driveway as needed.

• Trash/recycling pick-ups and deliveries will not be affected.

This preliminary paving will facilitate the installation of new streetscape improvements (including new sidewalks and green infrastructure) over the coming months. Final paving will take place later this year.

Please email construction@somervillema.gov or call the Engineering Division at (617) 625-6600 ext. 5400 with questions.

Beginning on or around June 26, City contractors will begin work on subsurface utility improvements along Highland Ave. between School St. and Hamlet St.

During this phase of the project, Highland Ave. will be closed to eastbound traffic between School St. and Hamlet St. during work hours (7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays). The westbound travel lane will be maintained as usual. Schedules are subject to change.

All businesses will remain open and accessible during construction.

Estimated detour duration is approximately 3 months.

Eastbound Traffic Detour Route

Eastbound traffic on Highland Ave. will be detoured north on Central St. and east on Medford St. before reconnecting with Highland Ave.

Northbound traffic along Walnut St. will be allowed to proceed while the detour is in place.

Pedestrian and Transit Impacts

Sidewalk access for pedestrians may be restricted at times to facilitate construction of new utilities within the sidewalks. Temporary sidewalks will be installed to maintain safe crossings so as not to impede pedestrian travel, and allow access to businesses and residences along the affected stretch.

MBTA buses 88 and 90 will be allowed to proceed along Highland in both directions during the detour.

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

Starting the week of June 12 (weather permitting), City contractors will begin the reconstruction of Summer St. between Spring St. and School St.

Initial work will include milling of the roadway (removal of the top layers of pavement). Subsequently, repaving with an initial binder course of asphalt will take place over the following weeks, additional notification will be provided ahead of paving.

This next phase of work will facilitate the installation of new streetscape improvements (including new sidewalks and green infrastructure) over the coming months. Final paving will take place later this year.

Construction impacts:

• On-street parking will be restricted during construction. Please observe posted signage.
• Periodic road closure during milling and 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 as 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 upgrade utilities and install streetscape improvements throughout the Spring Hill neighborhood.

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

Update 6/5: Westwood Rd - Bypass installation and subsequent utility work has been postponed. An additional update and notification will be provided once we have a new date.

School St. (Highland Ave. to Summer St.) Utility Improvements Begin

Beginning on Monday, May 22 or soon after, City contractors will start underground utility improvements on School St.

To facilitate this work, School St. between Highland Ave. and Summer St. will be closed to through traffic during work hours (7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays). Please observe detour signage.

• Access will be maintained for residents.
• Parking restrictions will be in place during construction.
• Sidewalks will remain open for pedestrians.
• Some sidewalk access may be restricted at times. However, temporary sidewalks will be installed to maintain accessibility.

Other Ongoing Work in Spring Hill

Avon St. - Following paving on Avon St., crews will begin work on streetscape improvements, including new sidewalk and green infrastructure installations.

Oxford St. - Following paving of the eastern half of Oxford St. (Trull Ln. to School St.), underground utility work will continue on the western half of the street (Trull Ln. to Central St.).

Gibbens St. - Crews will be installing a new water main and drainage lines over the coming weeks.

Westwood Rd. - After the Memorial Day holiday, crews will be installing temporary water bypass on Westwood Rd. to ensure that residents continue to receive service during utility work. Residents will receive additional notification ahead of bypass installation.

Summer St. - Crews are expect to begin reconstruction and streetscape improvements on Summer St. (School St. to Spring St.) in early to mid-June.

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

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A comprehensive look at our full spring/summer schedule was presented at our most recent construction community meeting available here.

Weather permitting, this upcoming Friday, May 19th, City contractors will repave the eastern half of Oxford St. between Trull Ln. and School St. as part of the Spring Hill Sewer Separation Project.

Anticipated Schedule (subject to change):

Work hours are weekdays between approximately 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Construction Impacts:

• On-street parking will be restricted during paving. Please observe posted signage.
• Road will be closed 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 as needed.
• Trash/recycling pick-ups and deliveries will not be affected.

This is a preliminary binder course of paving following subsurface utility improvements. Final street reconstruction is scheduled to take place Spring 2024.

Please email construction@somervillema.gov or call the Engineering Division at (617) 625-6600 ext. 5400 with questions

Weather permitting, as early as next Monday, May 15th, City contractors will begin the reconstruction of Avon St. as part of the Spring Hill Sewer Separation Project.

Construction Impacts:

• On-street parking will be restricted during construction. Please observe posted signage.
• Periodic road closure during milling and 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 as needed.
• Trash/recycling pick-ups and deliveries will not be affected.

Planned Work and Anticipated Schedule (subject to change):

Work hours are weekdays between approximately 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Week of 5/15

• Milling the roadway (removal of current top layers of asphalt), then raising cast iron structures in the street.
• Paving an initial binder course of asphalt.
  • Initial paving enables contractors to begin setting new curbing and installing new sidewalks

Remainder of Spring/Summer

• Installation of new streetscape improvements
  • New sidewalks and green infrastructure (bioretention basin and irrigated planting area)
• Final curb-to-curb paving
  • Separate notification will be sent ahead of final paving

Please email construction@somervillema.gov or call the Engineering Division at (617) 625-6600 ext. 5400 with questions.

Thank you

City contractors will be connecting residents on the below streets to temporary water main bypass to ensure the continuation of water service during ongoing utility work.

Streets Requiring Temp Water Main Bypass

• Oxford St.
• Hershey St.
• Gibbens St.
• School St.

To install this temporary bypass, City contractors P. Gioioso & Sons Inc. personnel may request brief access to your property. The temporary water bypass is typically connected to buildings/residences via a blue rubber hose attached to an exterior spigot.

Learn more about being connected to water service via a temporary bypass here.

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