The imminent closure of the Ball Square/Broadway bridge and the expected traffic issues that are likely to follow are uppermost in many area residents’ minds. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Henry Lin-David

On July 18, the Green Line Extension (GLX) project team held a meeting in Medford to brief the public on its progress and goals for the future. Attendees were excited about the current state of the project, but also shared concerns about transparency and traffic logistics.

The meeting serves as a small step towards the GLX’s completion, which is tentatively set for late 2021. The project would drastically increase public transportation access in Somerville, from 15 percent of residents to an estimated 85 percent.

The Green Line Extension Contractors (GLXC) Project Manager John West informed the attendees that significant progress had been made on the “pre-Construction” phase, such as the removal of more than 500 tons of garbage from the track area. Tree clearing is also well underway, says West. But although the project appears to be running on schedule, he urged the community to be understanding of potential delays.

“The paramount concern we have is safety, not only of our workers, but of the public,” said West.

The team also updated residents on the design for the community path, which would provide additional pedestrian access to transit. The most recent plans include several safety features such as call boxes and lighting. Despite progress, these designs are still in their preliminary stages, said GLXC Engineering Coordinator Sean Anderson.

Finally, the community heard about the bridge replacement plan from Mike Ortlier, the GLXC Construction and Traffic Coordinator. The project will affect seven bridges between now and 2020, starting with the Broadway Bridge this coming fall. For the Broadway Bridge closure, the team presented a possible car detour as well as three potential bus routes, inviting the community to consider which proposal might be optimal.

Following the presentation, attendees were given an opportunity to comment on the project. The participants included State Representative Christine Parker, who emphasized the importance of communication between the GLX team and the community.

“I’m hoping for a process where people are listened to,” said Parker.

Community members were perhaps most anxious about the Broadway Bridge, which will be closed for reconstruction for twelve months. The current detour would direct cars onto Harvard Street, which residents claimed would not only be disruptive, but dangerous.

“Harvard Street is in pathetic shape,” one person declared. Another resident said that a National Grid worker had likened the road’s conditions to “Swiss cheese.” One person said that Harvard Street would need to be repaired before facing this massive increase in traffic.

In addition, attendees worried that large backups caused by detours might encourage drivers to pour into residential areas.

“I’m very concerned about the motor vehicle detour route,” said Ward 5 Alderman Mark Niedergang. “Keep people the hell out of our neighborhoods!”