May 2026:
Week of May 4: Site prep work, form work
Week of May 11: Dewatering, form work continues, preparation for foundations
Week of May 18: Form preparation and concrete foundation placement for planter wall
Week of May 25 (No work on Monday, May 25 Memorial Day or Thursday, May 28 Harvard graduation): Form work for seating wall and pole foundations
April 2026:
No work on Monday, April 20, Patriot's Day
Crews on site include surveying, dewatering as needed, site housekeeping.
Construction Notice: Work to Resume the Week of April 6, 2026
The City’s contractor, Newport Construction, will remobilize the week of April 6 to resume construction activities at Harvard Square Plaza. Work is anticipated to take 5 months for the Plaza, weather permitting. All work will be contained within the worksite fencing on the Plaza.
This work will include:
- Installation of new granite steps, granite planters and granite curb
- Installation of new brick pavers and lighting
- Installation of granite seating wall/handrails/planting area
- Drainage improvements and irrigation installation
What to Expect During Construction:
- General work hours are 7 a.m.- 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- Please check for posted No Parking signs.
- Access to businesses via the front walkway will be maintained during construction.
All construction-related updates and impacts will be posted on the Harvard Square Plaza project page:
www.cambridgema.gov/departments/publicworks/cityprojects/2021/harvardsquarekioskandplaza
If you would like to receive email updates, please sign up under the Contact Tab on the project page.
For Information and Assistance During Construction:
If you have any questions regarding this project: Contact Linda Spencer, Project Administrator-Community Relations at 617-349-9734/ lspencer@cambridgema.gov. If you have any special needs or disabilities, please contact us to arrange for special accommodation that may be necessary. In case of a construction emergency, please call the Cambridge Public Works Department 24-hour hotline at 617-349-4800.
We appreciate your patience as we work to improve Harvard Square Plaza.
March 2026:
The Contractor will be on site performing dewatering activities and site cleaning.
January 2026:
Week of January 19: The Contractor will be on site performing site cleaning. Test pits are scheduled to be done on Thursday, January 22, weather permitting.
November 2025:
No work on Tuesday, November 4, Election Day
No work on Tuesday, November 11, Veterans Day
Throughout November, construction activity will include:
- Utility water work/extend pipe
- Performing footing work
October 2025:
No work on Monday, October 13, Indigenous Peoples' Day
Throughout October, construction activity will include:
- General housekeeping
- Survey work
- Installation of new scrim
- Planter excavation
- Miscellaneous form/footing work
- Preparation for planter wall
September 2025:
No work on Monday, September 1, Labor Day
Throughout September, construction activity will include:
- Concrete form work
- Pour concrete for foundation
- Installation of granite planters/granite wall foundations
- Address waterproofing
August 2025:
Throughout August, construction activity will include:
- Drainage installation
- Rebar installation
- Concrete form work
- Waterproofing
- Irrigation work
July 2025:
No work on Friday, July 4, Independence Day
Throughout July, construction activity will include:
- Rebar installation
- Concrete form work
- Demo of light bases
- Waterproofing
- Irrigation work
- Conduit at Mass and Dunster
June 2025:
No work on Thursday, June 19, Juneteenth
Demolition work, utility work including drainage, and preparation for concrete forms will continue throughout June.
May 2025:
No work on Monday, May 26, Memorial Day
No work on Thursday, May 29, Harvard University Commencement
Demolition work and preparation for concrete placement, all within the fenced in construction area, will continue throughout May.
April 2025:
Demolition work, utility work and preparation for concrete work, all within the fenced in construction area, will continue throughout April.
March 2025:
Demolition work within the fenced in construction area will continue throughout March, weather pending.
CONSTRUCTION NOTICE: Harvard Square Plaza Reconstruction Next Phase of Work to begin the week of February 10
The City’s contractor, Newport Construction, will wrap up the second phase of construction from Dunster Street to JFK Street and along JFK Street the week of February 10, weather depending.
The next phase of work is expected to begin the week of February 10, with an anticipated duration of eight months, weather depending. All work will be contained within the worksite fencing on the Plaza (see shaded green area on the map below).
This next phase will include:
- Removal of existing light poles, steps, bench, bollards, planters, curb, brick sidewalk
- Installation of new granite steps, granite planters and granite curb
- Installation of new brick pavers/terrace seating/lighting
- Installation of veneer wall/handrails/tree planter wall
- Drainage improvements and irrigation installation
- Full depth road reconstruction
What to Expect During Construction:
- General work hours are 7 a.m.- 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. There will be intermittent off-hours work as needed. The contractor has obtained a noise variance from the License Commission and these hours will be updated on the project page.
- Please check posted No Parking signs.
- Access to businesses via the front walkway will be maintained during construction.
All construction-related updates and impacts will be posted on the Harvard Square Plaza project page: www.cambridgema.gov/departments/publicworks/cityprojects/2021/harvardsquarekioskandplaza. Additional notices will be distributed as work progresses. If you would like to receive email updates, please sign up under the Contact Tab on the project page.
For Information and Assistance During Construction:
Questions regarding this project: Contact Linda Spencer, Project Administrator-Community Relations at 617-349-9734/ lspencer@cambridgema.gov or Melissa Miguel, P.E. Supervising Engineer at 617-349-9351/ mmiguel@cambridgema.gov.
If you have any special needs or disabilities, please contact us to arrange for special accommodation that may be necessary.
In case of a construction emergency, please call the Cambridge Public Works Department 24-hour hotline at 617-349-4800.
February 2025:
Week of February 3: Sidewalk work (between Dunster St. and JFK St.), install brick on sidewalk (JFK St./Mass Ave. between the two CVS entrances), install trench drain.
Week of February 10: Sidewalk work (JFK St/Mass Ave. between the two CVS entrances) including grading and binder.
Week of February 17 (No work on February 17, Presidents' Day): Sidewalk work (JFK St/Mass Ave. between the two CVS entrances), install brick. Mobilize to next phase and begin demolition work
Week of February 24: Sidewalk work (JFK St/Mass Ave. between the two CVS entrances). Demolition work, utility work.
January 2025:
There will be no work on January 1, New Year's Day.
January 2 (work resumes): Install trench drain, install brick on sidewalk in front of businesses.
Week of January 6: Sidewalk work (between Dunster St. and JFK St.)
Week of January 13: Install brick on sidewalk (between Dunster St. and JFK St.), sidewalk work (JFK St./Mass Ave between the two CVS entrances).
Week of January 20 (No work on January 20, Martin Luther King Day)) Install brick on sidewalk (between Dunster St. and JFK St.), sidewalk/curb work (JFK St./Mass Ave. between the two CVS entrances).
Week of January 27: Excavate sink hole/JFK St. Sidewalk work (between Dunster St. and JFK St.). Sidewalk work (JFK St./Mass Ave. (between the two CVS entrances) including demo, grading and binder.
December 2024:
Week of December 9: Sidewalk work, adjust castings, sidewalk binder (between Dunster St. and JFK St, in front of the businesses). Install detectable warning panels at Dunster Street.
Week of De