2 Somerville Roads Set To Become Two-Way Streets

SOMERVILLE, MA – Union Square will see a permanent traffic pattern change this summer. Beginning in late July or early August – the official date is still up in the air based on final construction schedules – both Prospect Street and Webster Avenue will be converted to two-way roads for vehicle and bicycle traffic.

Webster is currently a one-way street from Somerville Avenue to the Prospect Street intersection, while Prospect is a one-way from Webster Avenue/Concord Street into Union Square. The switchover is the product of a multi-year "Union Square Early Action" planning project, which started construction this past spring.

According to the city, the project has four primary goals – to relieve vehicle congestion in Union Square, improve safety and accessibility, perform minor water and sewer utility upgrades and facilitate a safe and efficient traffic management plan for the upcoming larger sewer separate project slated for 2017-18.

Electronic signs will be placed in several locations in Somerville and Cambridge to alert drivers of the upcoming change. Once the lane markings and new traffic signals have been installed, cones, barricades and police details will be placed temporarily to help travelers adjust to the new pattern.

For more information about the Union Square Early Action project, including plans, and presentations from past public meetings, visit www.somervillema.gov/usqearlyaction.

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