Following critical utility work, interim paving will support safe travel prior to the full redesign of Highland Avenue 

Beginning Sunday, September 15 at 8:00 p.m., city contractors plan to pave the travel lane (approximately 28-feet wide) surface along Highland Avenue between School Street and Benton Road.  

This is the second part of a two-part interim paving plan. The first part covering the segment of roadway between McGrath Highway and School Street was completed on July 11. 

Highland Avenue is one of Somerville’s most traveled roadways. To ease travel and support safety prior to a pending larger streetscape project planned for Highland, Mayor Ballantyne’s administration allocated $375,000 for the interim paving of eastern Highland Avenue from Benton Road to McGrath Highway in the fiscal year 2024 budget. This interim repaving will precede a full, multi-modal streetscape redesign and reconstruction to be shaped with community input. 

“Once again, I want to thank the community for its tremendous patience as we conducted essential underground utility improvements underneath Highland. Shoring up our infrastructure both below and above ground is vitally necessary after decades of underinvestment. And we are not stopping here,” said Mayor Ballantyne. “I look forward to the community coming together to plan for a future Highland Avenue that will be even safer and greener, and that will make it easier to choose more sustainable modes of travel like public transit, walking, biking, and rolling.” 

 More About This Week’s Paving  

Paving will take place overnight beginning Sunday, September 15 at approximately 8:00 p.m. and ending Monday, September 16 at approximately 7:00 a.m. This schedule is subject to change due to weather or other factors.  

 During paving operations: 

·       Highland Avenue between School Street and Benton Road will be closed to motor vehicle traffic in both directions during work hours. 

o   Temporary detours will be installed for vehicle traffic. 

o   Access will be maintained for pedestrians via both sidewalks. 

o   MBTA buses and emergency vehicles will be able to proceed in both directions at all times.  

·       On-street parking will be restricted during paving.  

o   We ask that residents please observe posted signage.  

Following paving operations:  

·       Highland Avenue will be reopened to vehicle traffic in both directions.  

·       Temporary roadway pavement markings will be installed.  

o   Crews will return in the coming weeks to install permanent pavement markings.  

 Future Full Redesign and Reconstruction of Highland Avenue  

The City’s current Five-Year Capital Investment Plan includes a larger-scale redesign and reconstruction of Highland Avenue. This effort is currently planned to begin as early as July 2025. For more details visit somervillema.gov/highlandave.  

To ensure consistency with the city’s Vision Zero Action Plan and Citywide Bicycle Network Plan, this larger project will include:  

·       Reconstructed sidewalks.  

·       Traffic calming and crosswalk safety enhancements.  

·       Two directions of separated bicycle lanes.  

·       Bus priority infrastructure.  

·       Green stormwater infrastructure elements.  

The project development process will include a thorough evaluation of resident, business, and visitor parking and loading needs with a commitment to serve these needs in the context of the future street design.   

To stay informed on the larger-scale redesign and reconstruction project please visit somervillema.gov/highlandave. 

About the Spring Hill Sewer Separation  
Much of Spring Hill has historically been served by a combined sewer system that collects both wastewater and stormwater runoff in the same pipes – some of which date back to the 1800s. The City of Somerville has worked to upgrade these outdated systems by installing new storm drains that separate stormwater from the existing combined sewer. This measure is one in a series of actions the city is undertaking to reduce water pollution, mitigate flooding, and ultimately modernize our infrastructure.  

In addition to the installation of a modern, separate sewer system, the Spring Hill Sewer Separation project includes:  

·       Green infrastructure to help manage stormwater by mimicking natural processes.  

·       185 new trees to be planted throughout the neighborhood.  

·       Improvements to the streetscape for people walking, wheeling, driving, or cycling. ·        

For more information on this project visit somervillema.gov/springhill.