Spring Hill Sewer Separation Project

To help community members stay informed on planned work for Highland Avenue, the City of Somerville is sharing an update regarding the current timeline for the utility work and interim paving that will precede the full redesign and reconstruction.

Utility Upgrades on Eastern Highland Ave. (Winter/Spring 2024)

Winter ‘24

With much of the underground utility work complete across the project area, City contractors will be operating in a reduced capacity this winter season, focusing their efforts on Summer St. between School St. and Prescott St.

Meanwhile, Eversource Gas contractors will be working to install a new gas main along Highland Ave. between Benton Rd. and School St.

All work is weather permitting.

School St. Paving

Weather permitting, City contractors will perform roadway grading and paving on School Street (between Summer St. and Highland Ave.) during the week of November 6th.

This work will provide a restored surface for the winter season and facilitate the installation of new streetscape improvements (including new sidewalks and green infrastructure) beginning in spring 2024.

Anticipated Schedule (subject to change):

• Monday-Wednesday (11/6-11/8)- Grading of the street and other preparation for paving

• Thursday (11/9) – Paving of preliminary binder course of asphalt

• Work hours are weekdays between approximately 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Construction Impacts:

• On-street parking will be restricted during construction.

  • Please observe posted signage.

• Continued road closure during grading and paving.

• Access to your driveway may be temporarily restricted during paving.

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

Summer St. Intersection Paving

An additional day of paving on Friday, November 10 is required to finish paving originally scheduled to be completed during the week of 10/30. More information on that work is available here.

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.

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

Please join us for a virtual community meeting on the Spring Hill Sewer Separation Project.

Topics to be covered include:

• Review of progress made this summer and fall
• In-depth look ahead to upcoming winter work and the 2024 construction season
• Neighborhood feedback and Q&A session with City staff

Register Here

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 to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy in advance at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.

Interpretation into any language is available upon advance request (at least seven days in advance) by contacting the SomerViva Office of Immigrant Affairs at somervillema.gov/ContactSomerViva or calling 311 at 617-666-3311.

Beginning Nov 1 or soon after, Highland Ave. will be closed to eastbound traffic between School St. and Hamlet St. during work hours (8 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 2-3 weeks.

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.

More Information

The reinstallation of the detour will facilitate final water/sewer service installation (connections between newly installed utilities and the individual properties). While it was originally anticipated that this work could be completed while maintaining two-way traffic, it has been determined that the detour is required to safely and efficiently move forward with this phase of work.

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

Weather permitting, City contractors will be paving intersections along Summer St. between Spring St. and Preston Rd. during the week of October 30 as part of the Spring Hill Sewer Separation Project.

Summer St. intersections being paved include Spring St., Benton Rd./Harvard St., Carter Terr., Laurel St., Greene St., and Preston Rd.

Intersections will be paved one after the other (and not simultaneously) to enable detours that allow access to the neighborhood during work. Please observe posted signage and proceed with caution.

Work schedule (subject to change):

• This paving work is currently scheduled for October 30 – November 2.

• Work hours are weekdays between approximately 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Construction 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 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.

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.