Welcome back to the City of Somerville's construction newsletter!

A new floating bus stop, protected bike lane, and new sidewalks in progress on Somerville Avenue.

Fall is here. The perfect time to go apple picking, smash a pumpkin (sustainably!), or begin work to update water delivery systems throughout East Somerville. 


As always, if you have any questions about the work below (or any work in the city) please don't hesitate to reach out to us at

construction@somervillema.gov.

What We're Sharing This Month: 

• Somerville Avenue at Central Street - Intersection Improvements
• Speed Hump Installations
• Tufts Street Reconstruction Update
• Water and Sewer Utility Upgrades Underway in East Somerville
• Subterranean Somerville – Poplar Street Update
• Keeping up to date 
• We can’t cover all the work in one newsletter 

Work to make the intersection of Somerville Avenue and Central Street safer by slowing vehicles, providing dedicated space for people taking the 83 and 87 busses, and making it easier to cross the street is underway. 

Crews have been building the floating bus stop on the south (even-numbered) side of the street (pictured above and below).

We anticipate crews will be working on this side of the street for another approximately one to two weeks before moving to the other side of the street.

Following reconstruction of the sidewalks and installation of traffic calming features, crews will repave the entire intersection. Paving is expected to take place in late October/early November.

City Contractors will be working around the City over the next 1-2 weeks to install another round of speed humps as part of the City’s efforts to reduce motor vehicle speed and improve safety.  

Where are new speed humps being installed?

East Somerville  

• Bonair Street from McGrath Highway to Cross Street 
• Glen Street from Oliver Street to Pearl Street  
• Franklin Street from Pearl Street to Broadway  

Ward 2

• Laurel Street from Summer Street to Somerville Ave 
• Dane Street from Somerville Ave to Washington Street 
• Calvin Street from Washington Street to Beacon Street  


And last but not least...

• Walnut Street near intersection of Medford Street  

Work to build new, wider sidewalks on Tufts Street has been progressing over recent weeks. Crews began work at the intersection of Tufts Street and Cross Street and have been proceeding south toward Washington Street.  

Crews expect to continue sidewalk work throughout the fall as weather allows. Once winter conditions prohibit sidewalk work, crews will begin installing new drainage features along the street. Remaining sidewalk work and other streetscape improvements will resume in the spring.

New, wider sidewalks recently installed at the intersection of Tuft St. and Cross St.

The new design for Tufts still will include: 

• Two-way connections for vehicles and for bikes 
• Street pinch points for traffic calming 
• Landscaped areas 
• Four multipurpose parking spaces 
• Expanded tree wells for remaining mature/healthy trees to support the longevity and new trees to increase long-term shade coverage 
• Wider sidewalks 
• and new raised crossings across Tufts Street at Glen Street, Dell Street, and Cross Street. 

Visit the project website to learn more and stay up to date.

Residents of affected streets will receive additional notification prior to work taking place.

The pump house will include a control center that will help the City manage its stormwater assets, ensure the pumps can function efficiently during heavy rain, and remain in good working order.

Excavation for the Pump House (left/top) and contractors preparing to pour the pump house slab floor (right/bottom).

Elsewhere in the neighborhood, crews are working to connect the City’s new stormwater utilities, built to transport water from the pump station, to the MBTA’s drainage systems underneath Green Line Extension.

Connecting into the MBTA’s system is a major project milestone. In fact, the entire project depends on the additional capacity gained through this connection to unlock key benefits including:

• Flood reduction across Wards Two and Three
• Healthier water ways by reducing discharge of sewage (CSOs) to nearby waterways during heavy storms
• Expanding capacity for development throughout the city

This connection is expected to be complete by the end of this fall.

There is a lot of work being done in Somerville as we look to modernize and improve our city’s infrastructure, and we can’t cover it all in one email.

Stay up-to-date with what’s going on in your neighborhood and around the city via the following channels: 

• Sign up for City Alerts - Receive important notifications about work in your area.

• Follow us on BlueSky - Posts about curb-cuts, culverts, and more.

• Visit our new construction page - A comprehensive look at work across the city.

Language and Accessibility