UPDATED, July 26: Work has begun in earnest on the first phase of the $6.84 million Mass. Ave. project, starting at Pond Lane and heading toward Cambridge.
A description of what residents and business can expect was presented, followed by comments from 27 residents at the project kickoff at the Thompson School on Monday, June 16.
Word on the Street, a blog by Adam Auster, provided the first account of the meeting. Read it here >> A subsequent post provides more detail >>
Gregory Oswitt, project manager for J.H. Lynch & Sons Inc., based in R.I. with one office in Millbury, explained the expected time frame of construction.
June 16: Capitol Square businesses’ ‘big adventure’
June 27: Word on the Street looks at Allen Street | July 2: Wyman Street bump-outs | July 7: Clues on Grafton Street | July 16: Survey crews east of Capitol Square | July 18: Grafton St. staging | July 20: Trees wrapped | July 22: John Deere lands | July 27: Week in pictures
During the final week of July, drainage work will continue. Tree removal and test borings for new traffic signals may be conducted during this week as well.
Starting in mid-July, utility crews will work in 100-foot segments on the left side of Mass. Ave. starting at Pond Lane, moving toward Cambridge in August and September. Residents and businesses will have notice — from 72 hours to less than one day.
Drainage and water work will involve N-Star, RCN, Comcast and Verizon as well as the town water department. Water interruptions are described as short-term.
Once that side is done, workers will go the right side of the avenue at Pond Lane and head in the same direction.
Sidewalks and curbs will be next, following this schedule (notice will be the same as above):
– From Pond Lane to Winter Street on the left side this fall;
– Winter Street to Alewife Brook next spring;
– Pond Lane to Orvis Street on the right side next spring and summer;
– Orvis Street to Alewife Brook next summer.
Sidewalks and curbs will be in one-block sections of about 100 feet at a time, affecting about five parking spaces.
The project will close down sometime in November and resume in March.
Resurfacing seen in fall 2015
Roadway resurfacing is expected to begin in fall 2015, and extensive night work is expected. During that period, barrels will signal elevated manholes, but drivers will be able to get around them.
Landscaping will begin in fall 2015, and full completion is scheduled to occur April 20, 2016.
Oswitt said that, barring unforeseen issues, Lynch hopes to be “substantially finished” by November 2015.
Work will take place from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. No weekend work is expected.
The project says that the maximum time a driveway would be closed is three days, MBTA service is be maintained through the project and anti-idling laws will be enforced.
In general, parking will be restricted in the construction zone during working hours. Added restrictions could last several days while concrete cures.
The new lane configuration will not take effect until after the road is painted, in late 2015 or early 2016, as weather permits.
Following the explanation about how the project will proceed, 27 people rose to speak. The majority of the speakers asked questions.
Read a summary of their comments here >>
Town website, June 17: .PDF of June 16 presentation
The state Department of Transportation provided residents, business owners and others with an overview of construction for the major project, due to be completed in April 2016.
Asked about the length notice the public will have about construction affecting neighborhoods from Pond Lane to the Cambridge line, MassDOT spokesman Michael Verseckes wrote that notifications will be made within 48 hours for utility shutdowns and/or cutovers for residential properties.
For utility shutdowns and cutovers for commercial properties, and for road and driveway closures, notification will be made within 72 hours, he wrote.
“The meeting will be to help provide an understanding of the construction process, the duration of the project, and what drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, area residents, and businesses can expect with the finished product,” he wrote.
A state news release said that the meeting also expects to provide an opportunity to meet MassDOT’s project team for the job. Following the presentation portion of the meeting, members of the MassDOT team will facilitate a question-and-answer session.
Members of the state team, introduced at the June 9 selectmen’s meeting, are Donny Dailey, legislative liaison; and Chris Leahy, Area Engineer, District 4 Construction. Included from Howard/Stein-Hudson are Nate Cabral-Curtis, transportation planner/public involvement specialist, associate; and Nick Gross, transportation planner/public involvement specialist.
Those from project contractor J.H. Lynch are Oswitt and Jim Lavallee, project superintendent.
MassDOT said in its release that the reconstruction project is part of the agency’s “commitment to providing a safe, efficient transportation system which serves all modes.”
In addition to roadway, signal and crosswalk improvements, this project includes upgrades to sidewalks, plantings, and street furniture. The early stages began May 27 and are to continue until April 2, 2016, according to the current schedule.
The Thompson School is accessible. To request language or access accommodations, please contact MassDOT’s director of Civil Rights at 857-368-8580, TTD/TTY 857-368-0603, Fax 857-368-0602 or by email at MassDOT.CivilRights at dot.state.ma.us.
A dedicated liaison for the project, Cabral-Curtis, has been hired to respond to the public’s questions. He met with some East Arlington business owners the week of May 19. Surveyors were seen working at the Cambridge line on May 27.
State explains 610 days
Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine told selectmen the state has forecast the project will take 610 days. He was asked to clarify whether this refers to total days or work days.
Chapdelaine responded May 22 with an answer from MassDOT: “The contract time duration is to be 610 days from the Notice to Proceed, which was issued on April 30, 2014.
“The 610 days are calendar days which results in a completion date of Dec. 30, 2015; however since this date is in the middle of the winter shutdown period, the contract completion date was extended to April 15, 2016.”
A subsequent release put the date at April 20.
Chapdelaine added that MassDot said there is currently no weekend work planned. “The contractor would have to demonstrate a significant benefit in terms of convenience in order for MassDOT to consider weekend work,” he wrote.
Michael Verseckes, a MassDOT spokesman, wrote May 20: “Construction scheduling can be affected by a number of variables — principally weather. We are looking to have this project complete by spring 2016.”
Word on the Street reported, “The Town and the state have long described the project in terms of 18 months or 2 construction seasons. Delaying the start of construction until June has pushed the completion date into a third construction season, since little or no work will take place from November to March.”
Selectman Diane Mahon expressed fear about possible delays. At meetings in May and June, she cited the project to reconfigure and rebuild Forest Street. “It was supposed to be nine months and took five years,” she said.
She asked about timely notifications to the neighborhoods. She also wanted to make sure Lynch knew about drop-off/pickup times of Hardy students and that Town Meeting members be informed.
After these questions, she said, “This is a fantastic project.”
State explain’s liaison’s role
Cabral-Curtis, who started his job May 19, was asked to comment about that. Responding Tuesday, May 20, was Dailey, of the Government Affairs-Highway Division. He wrote:
“Nate’s role … is to assist MassDOT and the Town of Arlington in helping out at public information meetings, assist the agency with press releases, assist in getting the word out when a change in traffic patterns is on the horizon and as you say generally being available to help get answers from questions and concerns from members of the community and other stakeholders.
“Generally speaking, Nate will be available in the standard working window, 9-5 on weekdays. Other inquiries such as evening calls or emails will be responded to as soon as practical.”
He will be the contact for the public, but not the press.
Curro also noted that Adam Kurowski, town GIS director, has produced on short notice a map of business the project affects.
Dunn: ‘We’ll all feel some pain’
Selectman Dan Dunn noted at a meeting in May: “We’ll all feel some pain” from this project. He said he hoped all could work together to make it an excellent result.
In the audience was Maria Romano, taking notes. Outside in the hall was Eric Berger, who came in after the meeting ended. Both have long questioned the Corridor project. They were asked to comment, but responded with two opinion pieces, both of which YourArlington has published.
The $5,978,060.50 contract for construction was awarded March 19 to J. H. Lynch & Sons Inc. of Millbury.
The contract price will be higher than that after adding these costs: traffic police and flaggers, a contingency fund as a protection against cost overruns or unexpected issues that could surface during construction as well as for setting up a field office. Verseckes wrote that “these variables are not included in the bid price, because it is expected that they will cost a certain amount no matter who the contractor is and what their bid is — so essentially, they are removed from the bidding process but are included in the final cost.”
The project is funded 80 percent by the Federal Highway Administration and 20 percent by MassDOT.
Town paid part of design
To design the project, the town of Arlington paid $195,000, and the state paid $348,000, Laura Wiener of the town planning department wrote April 22.
Some steps to note
The town’s website makes these suggestions about what is to occur during construction:
— Mass. Ave. and all side streets will remain open to traffic at all times during the work.
— Reasonable access will be provided for pedestrians and vehicles through the project and to abutting properties.
— The contractor will provide written notice to all abutters one week in advance of any sidewalk reconstruction work and provide safe access to abutting properties during construction.
— Throughout the construction process, MassDOT will have a resident engineer on-site to oversee construction.
— Once the contractor is chosen, the town will work with MassDOT’ resident engineer and the contractor to set up a process for distributing information to residents and businesses, and addressing concerns.
Sign up for project alerts
To stay abreast of its progress and upcoming schedule, sign up for email notifications by subscribing to the “East Arlington Mass. Ave. Rebuild” email list here (scroll to bottom of page).
Or you can follow progress online at arlingtonma.gov/massaverebuild.
The project will upgrade the aging infrastructure and improve safety for all users. The length of the project is estimated at two construction seasons.
Town officials understand that this will have impacts on residents, businesses and travelers in the area. In the coming months, the town will work with MassDOT to develop a detailed communication plan to keep interested parties informed of upcoming work.
Arlington’s main thoroughfare and all side streets “shall remain open to traffic at all times during the period of time required for the completion of the work,” the state Department of Transportation’s bid specifications say. “Reasonable access shall be provided by the contractor for the convenience and safe passage of pedestrians and vehicles through the project and also to the abutting properties.”
For additional information about this project, visit the state website or arlingtonma.gov/massave.
Related links to Mass. Ave. project:
June 4: Some East Arlington businesses, residents get ready to make best of project
May 28: Project takes its initial steps
Opinion, June 4: Critic cites gas-mask research
Globe, Aug. 8, 2009: Eric Berger’s cause | E. Arlington Concerned Citizens (Part 2) | Livable Streets Coalition | Town project information
This story was published Sunday, June 15, 2014, and was updated numerous times since, the latest on July 26.
