Concern over safety issues at the Kensington Connector has been a topic of discussion for many years. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By The Times Staff

For years, Ward 1 City Councilor Matthew McLaughlin has been advocating for improvements at the Kensington Connector in East Somerville that he calls “dangerous and disgusting.”

An order from Councilor McLaughlin asked the Director of Mobility to provide an update on the Kensington Connector conundrum at the City Council meeting on January 8, and the item was later approved and sent to the Housing, Community Development and Equity Committee.

The Kensington Connector is a walking corridor below a major highway that connects East Somerville and Assembly Square under I-93. “We have a little underpass there that is dangerous and disgusting,” explained Councilor McLaughlin.

Somerville residents who walk or ride their bikes continue to be concerned for their safety, and accidents and fatalities have occurred in the corridor, leading to complaints about the danger zone.

This is about beautification,” McLaughlin added. “Making this a place where people actually want to walk.”

Councilor McLaughlin said that MassDOT has already approved the work that needs to be done to beautify the underpass, and the City of Somerville now needs to push the project forward.

“This has been approved by MassDOT for some time, and that’s what I mean by passing the buck,” said Councilor McLaughlin. “I keep hearing that, ‘oh we’re waiting on the state, we’re waiting on the state,’ and the state is saying, ‘that they’re ready to work,’ so I’m hoping the city is hoping to work as well.”

Councilor McLaughlin mentioned that the underpass needs lighting, artwork, and security to make it “not unpleasant.”

According to Councilor McLaughlin, people have died at the Kensington Connector. “People have been killed down there,” he said. “One unhoused person died under that bridge, and then someone else was hit by a car as well.”

“The Kensington underpass is smelly and gross and scary at times,” said At-Large City Councilor Kristen E. Strezo. She added that the underpass needs better lighting and that the issue needs to be addressed this year.