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Western Avenue Reconstruction

What's New

PROJECT BOOKLET HOT OFF THE PRESS! Please take a look at our project booklet, which provides a great summary of the conceptual design process, and provides details of several design concepts. If you would like a copy mailed to you, or others you think should receive it, please email the addresses to Jeff Rosenblum, jrosenblum@cambrigema.gov. This file is in PDF format and requires use of the free Adobe Acrobat viewer.

Join the Western Avenue email list and learn about the project:

If you would prefer to receive notifications by postal mail please use this form.

Take a quick survey about Western Avenue

View a summary handout about the project

View a flyer distributed to residents in January 2010. This file is in PDF format and requires use of the free Adobe Acrobat viewer.

Community Walks

These informal walks are led by city staff with occasional outside guests. The walks provide opportunities for neighbors to learn more about the project, and provide input to city staff. The walks are free and open to the public. Each walk will start near Central Square, goes down Western Avenue to the Charles River, and back.

View some photos of past walks

Upcoming Walks

• None Scheduled

Past Walks

All walks will be held RAIN or SHINE. In the event of rain, we will sit inside for part of the time before the walk.

About the Project

Western Avenue is scheduled to be fully reconstructed. The underground stormwater system, utilities, the roadway and the sidewalks will all need to be replaced. The redesign will consider all street users: walkers, bicyclists, bus riders and drivers. The redesign process is about to begin and will consider traffic patterns, lighting, trees, green space and environmentally friendly features.

This is an opportunity for the community to discuss changes that would make Western Avenue more neighborhood-friendly.

The community design process will run from Jan. through June 2010, followed by engineering design. Construction is expected to begin in summer 2011. There will be advisory committee meetings, community meetings and neighborhood walks to discuss the project.

Western Avenue has seen many changes since it was first constructed in 1824. In 1949, the street was changed from 2-way, with trolley cars running down the center, to one-way street as it is today. Once a manufacturing and commercial center, the area is now primarily residential.

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Community-wide Public Meetings

These files are in PDF format and require use of the free Adobe Acrobat viewer.

All community-wide public meetings will be held at the Citywide Senior Center at 806 Massachusetts Avenue in the Walter Milne Ballroom, from 6:00 - 8:00 PM (unless otherwise noted). View location map.

Western Avenue community-wide public meetings are also listed on the citywide Calendar of Events.

Advisory Committee

In January, 2010, the City of Cambridge appointed an advisory committee to represent a cross-section of resident and business interests in the corridor. Advisory committee members will participate in meetings and discussions, review written material, and advise the city on design issues associated with the reconstruction of the Western Avenue corridor. These issues range from overall design of the street as a multi-modal corridor, to discussing surface material, lighting and plantings/green space.

Members of the Committee:

Meeting Dates, Agendas, Notes and Materials:

These files are in PDF format and require use of the free Adobe Acrobat viewer.

All advisory committee meetings will be held at the Citywide Senior Center at 806 Massachusetts Avenue in the Walter Milne Ballroom, from 7:00 - 9:00 PM (unless otherwise noted). View location map.

Western Avenue Reconstruction Advisory Committee meetings are also listed on the citywide Calendar of Events.

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Resources

These files are in PDF format and require use of the free Adobe Acrobat viewer.

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For More Information

For more information about the Western Avenue Reconstruction project call Jeff Rosenblum, jrosenblum@cambridgema.gov, at 617/349-4615. The Community Development Department TTY line is 617/349-4621.

Sign up to receive updates by email or postal mail.

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