State and local officials, along with members of the general public, gathered on Monday for the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Wellington underpass bridge.
— Photos by Donald Norton

By Donald Norton

A ribbon cutting ceremony took place dedicating the long awaited underpass bridge connecting Ten Hills & Assembly Square on Monday afternoon, October 6.

This unique underpass bridge was built with over $1M given by First Federal Realty along with $250,000 from public monies, an example of how businesses in the private sector work to improve the city when working together.

A small crowd attended the ceremony at the Assembly Square side of the bridge, including those who worked very hard to make this a reality for Somerville. Somerville residents can now relax and enjoy the view of the water. Alderman Bill White, who is a local resident, asked who knew that Somerville had a beautiful water view with swans?

Mayor Joe Curtatone thanked everyone involved over the years who worked on this development; everyone from the Mystic View Task Force, Mystic River Watershed Association, as well as many other local groups and politicians over the years.

The bridge from Shore Drive runs under the Wellington Bridge over to the Sylvester Baxter Park on the Assembly Square side.

Sylvester Baxter Park is named after the first Secretary of the Metropolitan Parks Commission which was a predecessor of the current Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Attending the ceremony were State Representative Tim Toomey, Board of Alderman President Bill White, Mayor Joe Curtatone, State Representative Denise Provost, DCR representative Tom Lambert, State Representative Paul Donato of Medford, State Senator Pat Jehlen of Somerville and Medford, and Mystic River Watershed Director EK Khalsa, who was one of the many who worked hard to get this done.

Now those who take the Orange Line to work from Ten Hills can cross over in the morning and enjoy a nice walk along the river to the recently opened Assembly Square T Station, passing all the new stores and restaurants presently occupied, as well as those that will soon be opening.