New Traffic Pattern Coming To Somerville Street

SOMERVILLE, MA — The city announced that it will close Mossland Street to motor vehicles at its intersection with Elm Street as part of a project intended to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

The change will take effect on Thursday, Oct. 15, and will turn Mossland Street into a two-way street with a dead end at Elm Street for motor vehicles. Drivers accessing the street will need to enter and exit through Somerville Avenue. Emergency vehicles will retain access at both ends of the street.

City contractors and staff will install temporary traffic barriers, update street signs, adjust traffic signal timing, and add pavement markings and flex posts. The changes will transform Mossland Street into a “Neighborway,” a street designed to reduce vehicle traffic and speeds while improving conditions for walking and biking. A new two-way bicycle connection at Elm Street will connect riders to protected bike lanes on Elm Street and Somerville Avenue. Installation of the pavement markings will depend on the weather.

The work is part of the Elm-Beacon Connector Safety Improvements project, which covers portions of Elm Street, Somerville Avenue and Beacon Street, along with Mossland Street. The city identified the three main roads as high-crash streets for pedestrians and cyclists. The broader project includes protected bike lanes, changes at intersections to improve visibility, and traffic signal upgrades. Planning included more than a year of community engagement, traffic analysis, and testing of emergency and public transit operations.

This week, temporary traffic signal timing changes are being implemented to help address potential congestion caused by the new traffic pattern. Permanent signal equipment upgrades and timing changes are expected to be in place by November.

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