As part of the next phase of the Somerville Ave. Utility & Streetscape Improvements Project, City contractors will set up a large work zone in Union Square on or around February 19 that will require some through-traffic to be rerouted. The detour will remain in place for approximately six months.

For the duration of this six-month period, eastbound through-traffic on Somerville Ave. (toward Union Square) will be detoured onto Dane St. and Washington St. Likewise, southbound traffic on Bow St. will be diverted west onto Somerville Ave. to the Dane-Washington route. However, Somerville Ave. eastbound will remain open to drivers seeking access to residences, businesses, and on-street parking, who will still be able to proceed east on Somerville Ave. to the Warren Ave. intersection at Bow Street. Westbound through-traffic (toward Porter Square) will also be maintained, as will pedestrian routes and bicycle traffic in both directions.

MBTA bus stops on routes 85 and 87 between Dane St. and Union Square will be temporarily relocated. For more information on bus detour routes and stops, seewww.somervillema.gov/somervilleAve.

Businesses along Somerville Ave., Bow St., and in Union Square will all remain open during construction, and the community is encouraged to support local businesses during this disruption—and always.

The detour will allow crews to install stormwater infrastructure that will support nearly two-thirds of the City’s drainage and help minimize flooding in the Union Square area. Specifically, the first section of a stormwater box culvert will be installed along Somerville Ave. between Bow St. and Washington St. This structure will ultimately extend east to Poplar St.

For vehicle and bus detour maps and other project information, visit www.somervillema.gov/somervilleAve. For further information, please email construction@somervillema.gov with any questions.

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