The McGrath Highway project was recently discussed in detail by MassDOT representatives and local officials. – Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Cathleen Twardzik

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is currently conducting a study entitled Grounding McGrath: Determining the Future of the Route 28 Corridor (Grounding McGrath Study).

The study will seek not only to balance the needs of all transportation users, but also to facilitate connections along the corridor, and to encourage development, which will have a positive impact on the neighborhoods, as well as on the area, as a whole.

The McGrath Highway issue was discussed at a meeting last month between MassDOT officials and local representatives.

“The working group had a chance to take a look at four different conceptual redesigns of McGrath Highway.   There was a lot of discussion about the pros and cons of the various designs because they all have both. There [was] a lot of very detailed back and forth about the different concepts of design and the assumption that they’re based on,” said Denise Provost, State Representative.

The state department of public health will conduct a health impact assessment.

When asked why the McGrath Highway project is a good idea, Provost said, “As a layperson and legislator, the elevated McGrath highway is a barrier across the city of Somerville.  It’s also problematic, in terms of maintenance.  If you look at McGrath closely when you’re stuck in traffic at ground level, you’ll see that it’s seriously deteriorated and that there’s exposed rust [on the support columns.]”

“Given the state of the elevated highway, I’m very glad that there’s an orderly planning process to talk about what to do when it comes to the end of its useful life,” she said.

Grounding McGrath concerns several points:

The McCarthy Overpass, which is the elevated structure that carries Route 28 (McGrath Highway) over Washington Street in Somerville, is currently in need of substantial repairs.

Several significant planning and economic development efforts for the areas adjacent to the McGrath Highway corridor are in progress.

The City of Somerville has expressed a desire to modify McGrath Highway from its current classification as the “other freeway” to a roadway, which is more conducive to a boulevard.

The Route 28 corridor through Somerville and Cambridge will continue to play a pivotal role by the offering of multimodal access for the area, as well as for the adjacent neighborhoods.

It must be noted that this conceptual planning study is providing MassDOT, as well as the general public, with an opportunity to ponder the future functionality of the roadway, to consider the potential removal of elevated portions, and to enhance access for all modes of transportation.

One of the areas which would be affected by this project is Assembly Square. “A new Assembly [Square] Station on the orange line between Wellington and Sullivan Square Stations is planned to provide regional transit access and [to offer] an alternative to auto traffic at the Assembly Square re development district in Somerville.  The redevelopment district is the site of a proposed large-scale, mixed-use redevelopment project of 2,100 residential units, more than 2.75 million square feet of retail and office space and a 200-room hotel,” said Michael Verseckes, spokesperson of MassDOT.

Individuals who have any questions or comments which are related to the Grounding McGrath Study may contact: Ethan Britland, Project Manager of MassDOT, at ethan.britland@state.ma.us or call (617) 973-8236.

Individuals who would like more information or who are interested in getting on MassDOT’s mailing list should visit: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/groundingmcgrath/PublicParticipation.aspx.

Photo caption:
The McGrath Highway project was recently discussed in detail by MassDOT representatives and local officials.