Western Washington Street Mobility Improvements

City contractors will be paving the roadway surface along Washington Street between Bowdoin Street and Webster Avenue this Thursday, August 15 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

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

Construction Impacts

• Access to driveways on the affected stretch may be temporarily restricted during work hours.
• Temporary detours will be required for both eastbound and westbound through traffic while paving is underway
  • Detour signage will be in place to help people navigate around the work zones
  • Sidewalks in both directions will remain open during this phase of work.
  • Access will be maintained for emergency vehicles and MBTA buses at all times
• Temporary parking restrictions will be in place. Please observe posted signage.

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

Beginning this Friday, August 9 or soon after City contractors will be milling (removing the top few layers of asphalt) the roadway surface along Washington Street between Bowdoin Street to Webster Avenue in preparation for final paving of the roadway.

More About This Work

This first stretch of paving is being undertaken prior to the start of the 24-25 school year in order to reduce construction impacts to the Argenziano School community.

Additional street safety improvements along this stretch including construction of raised crossing, paving of protected bike facilities, and more will follow paving.

Milling/paving for the remainder of the project area (Webster Avenue to Line Street) is expected to take place later this fall.

Beginning the week of 8/5 or soon after, Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) contractors will be performing overnight work to repair sidewalks on the deck of the Bumpus bridge along Washington Street by the Argenziano School.

Work hours are 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Some parking restrictions and temporary detours may be required during work hours. Please observe posted signage.

Crews have been rebuilding sidewalks on the southern/even-numbered side of the street. Work has been proceeding east from Beacon Street toward Webster Avenue.

On sections of the street where we are building a sidewalk-level bike lane, crews have been installing a cobble buffer between the sidewalk and bike facility as seen in the image below (left).

Crews have also been installing a new floating bus stop (above right) near the intersection of Washington Street and Bowdoin Street.

What is a floating bus stop? A floating bus stops is a sidewalk bump outs that provide dedicated waiting and boarding areas for bus riders, while streamlining bus service and improving accessibility by enabling the bus to stop in the travel lane rather than having to pull over to the curb. Floating bus stops are separated from the sidewalk by a bike lane, eliminating conflicts between buses and bikes at stops and improving safety for people biking.

Following completion of work on the southern/even-numbered side, work will progress to the northern/odd-numbered side.

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

City contractors have been hard at work over recent weeks installing new sidewalks along Washington Street. Work began at Beacon Street on the even-numbered side of the street and is proceeding east toward Webster Avenue (continuing on the even-numbered side for the time being).

The first concrete sidewalks (pictured below) were recently poured along the stretch.

The open gravel space on the left will become a raised sidewalk-level protected bicycle lane later this season.

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

Crews have been making good progress installing new drainage structures along Washingston Street over recent weeks.

Beginning as early as 4/16 or soon after, crews will begin rebuilding sidewalks. Work is scheduled to begin at Beacon Street and head east toward Calvin Street.

Construction impacts:

• On-street parking will be restricted during construction.
  • Please observe posted signage.
• Access to driveways may be temporarily restricted while the entrance is reconstructed.
  • Notice will be provided directly to affected residents.
• Trash/recycling pick-ups 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 as early as Wednesday, March 13 or soon after City contractors will begin preliminary work on the Western Washington St. Reconstruction and Mobility Improvements project.

Work hours are weekdays 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Schedules are subject to change.

Initial Construction Activities

Over the coming weeks, crews will begin work by:

• Setting up tree protection near future work zones to prevent trees from being damaged during construction.

• Sawcutting (preliminary cutting prior to full excavation) select segments of asphalt/concrete.

• Installing new drainage structures along Washington Street.

Construction Impacts

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

  • Please observe posted signage.

• Two-way traffic will be maintained during this initial phase of construction.

• Sidewalk access may be restricted at times

  • However, pedestrian detours will be installed to maintain safe crossing and allow access to businesses and residences along the affected stretch.

• Occasional modifications to MBTA bus routes–signage will be posted at affected stops.

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

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

Beginning as early as tomorrow, November 30 or soon after City of Somerville’s contractors will begin installing new drainage structures along Washington St. as part of the City’s Western Washington St. Reconstruction and Mobility Improvements project.

This preliminary work will take place over the coming weeks as weather permits. After breaking for the winter, construction crews will remobilize in full force in early April along Western Washington St.

Anticipated Schedule and Locations of Work (Subject to Change):

• Work hours are weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Locations of work are along Washington St. between Line St. and Webster Ave.

  • Work expected to begin at the intersection of Washington St. and Caldwell Ave.

Construction Impacts:

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

  • Please observe posted signage.

• Two-way traffic will be maintained during construction.

• Sidewalk access may be restricted at times to facilitate construction.

  • However, temporary sidewalks will be installed to maintain safe crossing and allow access to businesses and residences along the affected stretch.

• Trash/recycling pick-ups 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.

The City's Engineering Division has been working over recent months with our project design consultants at Tetra Tech and our general contractors Charles Construction and D&R paving to prepare for construction on Western Washington St.

While construction was initially slated to begin this fall, we now anticipate work will begin in spring of 2024. The decision to defer construction until the spring was made in light of a number of factors including long lead-times to acquire necessary materials (e.g. granite curbing), City contractors’ engagement with other ongoing streetscape improvement projects across the city, and a desire to have work begin and continue uninterrupted through our full construction season (April through November).

While some preliminary work may still take place this fall (additional notification will be provided), construction crews will mobilize in full force in early April along Western Washington St. Additional notification will be provided to nearby residents and shared here once plans are finalized.

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

The City's Engineering Division is currently working with our project design consultants at Terta Tech and our general contractors Charles Construction and D&R paving to prepare for the initial phases of work along Western Washington St.

Work is currently expected to begin sometime this fall. Additional notification will be provided to nearby residents and shared here once plans are finalized.

Charles Construction and D&R Paving are also the City's general contractors on the currently ongoing Pearl St. Reconstruction and Safety Improvements Project. Crews will be working to complete that project over the coming weeks prior to beginning work on Western Washington.

Visit our Pearl St. project page for more info on that project and photos of street safety improvements being installed (including Somerville's first ever neighborhood traffic circle).

Staying Informed

Below are a number of ways you can stay up to date on this project and others around the city:

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