As the city prepares for the long-awaited Beacon Street reconstruction project, a public meeting to discuss upcoming work and overall improvements to the corridor will be held on Tuesday, May 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the Argenziano School, 290 Washington St. Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 2 Alderman Maryann Heuston, and the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD) invite members of the community to the meeting to hear about updates to the project’s design since the 25% design submission and timeline for construction.

Important sewer and utility work is already underway on Beacon Street. At the public meeting on May 13, the public will hear updates on the project plans for a vastly improved road surface, a dedicated cycletrack, new crosswalks, traffic, pedestrian signals, and more than 175 trees.

“Somerville is one of the most walkable and bikeable communities in the nation, and while we have made tremendous improvements in safety, infrastructure and accessibility measures for walking, cycling, and all other modes of transportation, we recognize that there is still a lot of work to be done. Beacon Street is a prime example,” said Mayor Curtatone. “For years, residents, businesses, activists and city officials have worked diligently to see that these necessary improvements are made to the Beacon Street corridor, which not only serves our residents but hundreds of thousands of multi-modal commuters throughout the region on an annual basis. We are proud to finally say: ‘Let’s break ground.’”

“As Somerville increasingly becomes a destination city, our community and our businesses are gaining regional and national recognition for the work we are doing, and our roads and infrastructure should not only serve as a grand welcome to those visitors, but they need to be safe and friendly to our own residents each and every day,” said Alderman Heuston. “I am glad to see Beacon Street, and Ward 2, receiving the improvements we have waited so long for, and I want to thank the state and MassDOT for allocating the funding to get this project started.”

The Federal Highway Administration, via an earmark for the project secured by Congressman Michael Capuano and MassDOT have set aside funding for the reconstruction of Beacon Street. Working with the City of Somerville, the intent of the project is to design a state-of-the-art roadway that increases the access, safety and mobility for all modes of travel in the corridor.

Updates will be posted on the city website at www.somervillema.gov/alerts/detours-and-construction-updates, and http://www.somervillema.gov/beaconstree