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

Concrete bump-out being installed to create an accessible path around a mature tree ahead of next week's paving on School Street

It's June and construction season, just like the weather, is heating up. The final major paving operation for the Spring Hill Sewer Separation is scheduled for next week, intersections are being raised to sidewalk level for greater accessibility, and the community path extension is getting new lighting.

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: 

• Spring Hill Sewer Separation – Final Final Paving Ahead 
• Holland Street and College Avenue Sidewalks and Paving Update 
• More Pavement and Sidewalk Improvements around the City  
• From the Mobility Division – Community Path Lighting Installation Begins 
• Subterranean Somerville: More than 5.5 miles of New Pipes in the Spring Hill Sewer Separation

Following a successful first round of final paving on project streets west of School Street, crews are preparing to pave Summer Street (~School St. to Bow St.) and School Street (Summer St. to Highland Ave.) on Tuesday, June 24.  

This is the final major paving operation of the Spring Hill Sewer Separation Project. More details are available on project website and will be shared directly with neighborhood residents.  

Other Ongoing Work Around the Neighborhood

As the project moves toward substantial completion later this month, crews are working on remaining construction items throughout the neighborhood including: 

• Adding remaining irrigation and plantings to green stormwater infrastructure (more on this below) 
• Installing remaining pavement markings and signage 
• And addressing other outstanding items. 

Sidewalks

Earlier this month, City contractors finished installing new sidewalks (see above) along Holland Street outside of Davis Square and Teele Square.  

Signal Improvements - Broadway/Holland Street Intersection

City contractors are actively working to improve traffic signal operation by adjusting timing and relocating/upgrading equipment at the intersection of Holland Street and Broadway.  

Why?  

• To improve emergency response times by preventing vehicles from blocking the fire station driveway. 
• To create a safer, more accessible experience for people crossing the street by adding an accessible push button and upgraded countdown timer. 

Paving

As the final major piece of this project, crews will repave segments of both Holland Street and College Avenue. Milling (removal of the current top few layers of asphalt) and other preparation for paving is expected to take place the week of June 30th.

Locations:

Holland Street  

• Dover Street to Winter Street 
• Includes new raised intersection at intersection of Irving Street/Thorndike Street 
• Claremon Street to Newbury Street 

College Avenue  

• Highland Avenue to Winslow Avenue 

Highland Avenue  

• At intersection w/ College Avenue 

Pavement markings and reinstallation of flex posts that were removed to facilitate work to follow.

As we look forward to our next two “complete streets” projects, Tufts Street and West Broadway, getting underway later this summer, there is plenty of work going on around the City to improve our sidewalks and roadway, making them safer and more accessible for everyone.  

Below are a few places where this work underway.

Raised Intersections at Oak St. and Houghton St./Hanson St. and Skehan St. 

Last week crews put down a final course of asphalt on two new raised intersections. 

Since they are elevated (roughly to sidewalk height), people driving must slow down as they approach the crossing. They also enable people using wheelchairs and other mobility devices to cross more easily.

New raised intersections at Hanson/Skehan and Oak/Houghton awaiting pavement markings

New Accessible Community Path Entrances on Thorndike Street – New ADA curb ramps and sidewalk panels were recently installed on Thorndike Street on either side of the community path.

Meacham Road and Gorham Street - Over recent weeks, crews have been rebuilding sidewalks on Meacham Road and Gorham Street. Crews expect to start preparing for paving in the coming weeks. 

Otis Street – Following paving on Meacham and Gorham, crews will mobilize on Otis Street in early-mid July to begin sidewalk reconstruction on those streets. Paving of the roadway will follow. 

Interested in how we prioritize pavement and sidewalk work? Learn more at the link below.

If you've ridden the community path east of Walnut Street earlier this week, you may have encountered a detour. That's because work to install 2600 feet of new lighting along the path between Walnut Street and Poplar Street is underway. This lighting will be installed underneath the existing railings along the path.

This work will continue through the summer. This weeks detours are the most significant disruptions to path use anticipated. That said, any addition impacts to the path will be shared on the page below and through other City channels. 

Water

16,309 (LF) Installed

Drainage

10,334 (LF) Installed

Sewer

2,9452 (LF) Installed 8,026 (LF) Restored

Crews work on underground utility improvements on Summer Street by Nunziato Park - June 2024

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