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



Winter is typically a quieter time for construction in the city, but that quiet is relative. Across much of the city, work to improve our built environment has continued progressing.

We’re here to invite you to see what was accomplished during a (so far) snow-deficient winter, preview some of what’s ahead come spring, and take you on a trip into our sewers.

What We're Sharing This Month: 

• New Traffic Signals
• Western Washington Reconstruction (Coming Soon)
• 2024/2025 Intersection Improvements
• Progress at the Poplar Street Pump Station
• Subterranean Somerville: Sewer TV

Alewife Brook Parkway & Powder House Boulevard

Earlier this month the new traffic signals were switched to their typical configuration after an initial flashing period mandated by the State was completed.

This final step in the signalization process also activated new controlled crossings, making it safer and easier for people walking, wheeling, or cycling to access nearby parks and recreational spaces.

Davis Square Intersection Improvements

This winter, contractors installed new traffic signal equipment and adjusted pavement markings to improve intersection operations in Davis Square.

These signal upgrades will improve safety at crossings and bus service. Davis Square was prioritized for improvements as it has some of the highest pedestrian traffic in the City and six MBTA bus routes that run through it. 

The City is also working with the MBTA to install transit signal priority (TSP) equipment. Once activated, this equipment will be able to recognize when buses are approaching Davis Square and adjust the traffic signal timing to make it more likely that the bus has a green light when it gets to the intersection. 

A detailed summary of these improvements is available at somervillema.gov/daviscurbs.

Work on the City’s full reconstruction of Washington Street between Webster Avenue and Line Street is scheduled to start with preliminary drainage work the week of March 11th, or soon after. 

In addition to rebuilding sidewalks and repaving the roadway, an enhanced design will make the street safer for people walking or wheeling, cycling, taking the bus, or driving. 

What to expect

New sidewalks and pavement

The street will be paved from curb-to-curb and sidewalks will be rebuilt.

Safety Improvements

New design elements such as raised crosswalks, protected bike lanes, and floating bus stops will improve safety for all people whether they are walking or wheeling, cycling, or driving.

As part of our Vision Zero efforts to eliminate all traffic fatalities and dramatically reduce severe injuries on our roadways, the City will be working to bring safety improvements to prioritized intersections around Somerville.

Interested in staying informed about our Vision Zero initiatives? Sign up for the Mobility Division Newsletter.

From 2024 and 2025, the City plans to reconstruct five intersections to increase safety and improve comfort for all roadway users. These intersections include: 

• Cameron Avenue at Tannery Brook Row (expected construction start in 2024)
• Broadway at Boston Avenue (expected construction start in 2024)
• Washington Street at Merriam Street 
• Somerville Avenue at Central Street 
• Bow Street at Walnut Street

To determine what intersections to redesign, outside of our complete street projects like the upcoming Western Washington Reconstruction or last year’s Pearl Street Reconstruction, the City looks at locations that have higher vehicle volumes, are located on streets that experience a high number of crashes, and are near public transit. We also look at locations that represent a significant gap in the pedestrian network or have frequently been cited by community members in street outreach, 311 service requests and constituent emails.

Learn more about these intersection improvement projects here and stay tuned for more info on plans for construction.

City contractors have nearly completed digging the 40-ft deep, 170 ft. diameter area hole that will house the Pump Station's underground stormwater storage tank. Once constructed this tank will have capacity to store up to 4 million gallons of stormwater.

After excavation is complete, crews will begin prepping the area for the installation of the tank. These preparations include removing loose native rock, installing anchors that will eventually connect the tank to the underlying bedrock, and adding fill to create a level surface among other activities.

Meanwhile, crews will continue installing underground utility along Linwood Street–requiring a temporary closure of the street. More information provided on the project webpage.

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 Twitter - Tweets about curb-cuts, culverts, and more.

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

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