Construction and street closures: Orchard, Chester, and Holland streets

[ron_newman]

The Somerville Department of Public Works will start repaving work on Chester and Orchard streets today (Wednesday 8/15). The first step is to "mill" the street, which means removing the asphalt pavement layer. The resulting grooved surface will be pretty much unridable for bicycles, until the DPW applies new pavement late next week. Expect both streets to be intermittently closed while this work goes on.

Meanwhile, the state Department of Transportation will close Holland Street, between Winter and Dover streets, from 2 am on Sunday 8/19 until some time on Wednesday 8/22. The DOT will be installing a raised crosswalk here. I hope this will include a new curb cut to connect to the recently paved bike path that now goes around the T entrance instead of through it.

Robert King from the city DPW told me that "casting adjustments [on Orchard and Chester Streets] will be completed Friday and Monday with minimal traffic interruptions to the detour route [for Holland Street traffic]."

Comments

[squirrelitude]

"Unrideable"? Sounds like a challenge! :-D

[ron_newman]

I've ridden on such grooved surfaces during other road construction projects. They are pretty unpleasant even on my hybrid (Trek 730), and must be even worse on a road bike with narrow tires.

Detouring onto the sidewalk isn't a great idea either, as lots of folks walk here.

[laryu.livejournal.com]

Why do they mill and repave Chester Street every year!?

[ron_newman]

I don't remember the city doing this in recent years.

Earlier this year, the gas company ripped up Orchard Street for a while, and it really needs repaving now.

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

I think Holland Street is a totally inappropriate place for a raised crosswalk. I thought they avoided installing them on through streets and transit routes.

[ron_newman]

I expect it will look and function similarly to the raised intersections on Rindge Avenue in Cambridge, which is also a bus route and a moderately major street.

[teko.livejournal.com]

I notice that they're putting up "NO PARKING" signs the same day that construction's supposed to take place, which isn't the way it's supposed to work. Changing the dates on the signs after posting them when work falls waaaaaay behind on the first day isn't kosher, either, fellas.