Saturday: Somerville Roads Become 2-Way Streets

SOMERVILLE, MA – Somerville will enact a permanent traffic pattern change in Union Square starting this weekend. The city announced last week that both Prospect Street and Webster Avenue will be converted to two-way roads for vehicle and bicycle traffic Saturday, July 29 at 3 p.m.

On Friday, construction crews will paint new markings on both streets prior to changing traffic signals on Saturday morning. The July 29 start date is weather permitting – if rain hinders painting efforts on Friday, the traffic pattern change will take effect Sunday.

Drivers traveling through Union Square this weekend are asked to use caution and anticipate these changes. Police details will remain at these intersections for at least one week, and construction barrels, cones, and signage will help guide drivers and bicyclists through this change. (Sign up for the Somerville Patch newsletter and like us on Facebook)

Important Information About the Traffic Pattern Change:

• Both Prospect St. and Webster Ave. will permanently accommodate two-way traffic, both for bicycles and for vehicles.
• A drop-off lane for St. Joseph’s Church and Prospect Hill Academy will be maintained. Parking will be eliminated on this side of the street.
• Newton St. will no longer be a through street, but will be accessible for abutters only.

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.

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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