Spring Hill Sewer Separation Project

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

Spring Community Meeting

Eversource Electric contractors are working to repair electrical utilities along Highland Avenue (School St. to McGrath Hwy). These repairs are essential and required to restore regular electrical service to locations on the easternmost end of Highland Avenue.

Affected residences are currently being provided electrical service via generators while repair work is underway.

Work is expected to continue through the week. Given the essential nature of the repairs, work may be permitted outside of typical construction hours and on weekends.

Tentative Schedule (subject to change):

• Wed-Sat (5/1-5/3) - 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.

• Sunday (5/5) - no work scheduled

• Mon-Fri (5/6-5/10) - 9 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Temporary detours and parking restrictions will be in place. Please observe posted signage.

This work is not part of the City’s Spring Hill Sewer Separation project or Eversource Gas’ ongoing gas main replacement project currently underway. City’s contractors, working as part of the Spring HIll Sewer Separation have paused work on Highland Avenue to allow repairs to proceed. Eversource Gas contractors are continuing work on Highland Avenue west of Central Street.

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

Construction Update

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

Streetscape Construction Activities

• Summer Street (School St. to Spring St.)- Crews are expected to complete installation of new sidewalks along Summer Street this week.
  • Some work will continue on Summer Street as crews prepare for spring plantings and continue work on green stormwater infrastructure.
  • Final paving on Summer Street will take place this summer. Residents will be notified via flyer and city alert prior to that work taking place.
• School Street (Summer St. to Highland Ave.)- Sidewalk reconstruction work on school street is now underway and will continue over the coming weeks.
  • Final paving on School Street will take place this summer. Residents will be notified via flyer and city alert prior to that work taking place.

Underground Utility Improvements

• Summer Street (School St. to Bow St.) - Installation of new drainage and sewer utilities is currently underway and expected to continue into the summer months.
• Highland Avenue (Walnut St. to Thorpe St.)- Installation of new water, drainage and sewer utilities along this stretch of Highland Avenue is currently underway and will continue for the next ~ 3 weeks.
  • Crews are currently working to complete installation of new water mains and will soon turn to installation new water service (connections between individual properties and the new water mains.
• Highland Ave. (Benton Rd. to School St.)- Eversource Gas installation of new gas utilities is currently underway.
  • This work is expected to continue through the Spring, requiring eastbound traffic on Highland Ave. to be detoured via Central St. and Medford St.

Construction Impacts

• 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.

With warmer weather on the horizon, crews are preparing to begin work on streetscape improvements across the Spring Hill neighborhood.

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.

Initial Streetscape Construction Activities Beginning Soon

• Summer Street (School St. to Spring St.) - Crews will pick-up where they left off last year and begin installing new sidewalks and irrigation on the odd numbered side of the street.

  • Construction of the new westbound bike lane is also expected to begin in the coming weeks.

• Avon Street - Installation of new green stormwater infrastructure to start week of 3/24

• School Street (Summer St. to Highland Ave.) - Sidewalk reconstruction work is expected to begin in the coming weeks.

Underground Utility Improvements

• Summer Street (School St. to Bow St.) - Installation of new drainage and sewer utilities is currently underway.

• Highland Ave. (Walnut St. to Thorpe St.) - Installation of new water, drainage and sewer utilities to begin in the coming weeks.

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

  • This work is expected to continue through the Spring, requiring eastbound traffic on Highland Ave. to be detoured via Central St. and Medford St.

    • Starting Monday 3/18 - Work hours for this work shift to weekdays between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Construction Impacts

• 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 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.

During the week of February 26th or soon after, the City’s contractor, Insituform, will rehabilitate aging sewers in your neighborhood. Crews will use a method called cured-in-place-pipe lining (CIPP lining) to provide more structurally sound pipes without excavation.

Work is currently scheduled to take place on the following streets (weather permitting):

• Prescott St.
• Berkeley St.
• School St.
• Avon St.

If work is planned for your street, affected addresses will receive additional notification via flyer and city alert ~24 hours prior. Planned work hours will be included as part of that notification.

Service Alert for Affected Addresses (Day of Work Only): While this work is underway, please limit the use of water going down your drains to an absolute minimum, and do not use washing machines or dishwashers. You may continue to use your toilet as usual.

Other Impacts:

On-street parking restrictions expected on both sides of the work zone. Isolated street closures may be in effect. Onsite crews will provide detour signage and help abutters get in and out of their driveway as needed.

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

Starting on Monday, February 5 or soon after, westbound traffic on Highland Avenue. between School Street and Central Street will be detoured during work hours (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays) for approximately 2 months (weather permitting).

This detour will enable Eversource Gas to install new gas utilities along Highland Avenue.

All businesses will remain open and accessible during construction.

Westbound Traffic Detour

Westbound traffic on Highland Avenue will be detoured south on School Street, west on Summer Street and north on Central Street before reconnecting with Highland Avenue.

Eastbound travel will be maintained as usual.

Pedestrian and Transit Impacts

Some sidewalk access may be restricted at times. Temporary pedestrian detours will be installed as needed.

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

Highland Avenue Travel Lane Paving (Early Summer ‘24)

Following completion of utility work, City contractors will be paving the two travel lanes of the roadway (approximately 28-feet wide). Paving is on schedule to occur in early summer of 2024. This interim paving is expected to extend along Highland Avenue from roughly McGrath Highway to Central Street.

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