River Street Streetscape and Infrastructure Project Full-Depth Roadway Construction

.As part of the River Street project, the City’s contractor P. Gioioso & Sons (PGS) will begin the next phase of full-depth roadway reconstruction and paving on or about June 1, 2026. This work is expected to take approximately three weeks to complete.

• The upcoming full-depth construction section is River Street between Fairmont Street and Kinnaird Street. See map below.
• Full-depth construction ensures that roadway conditions will be favorable for many years to come. It involves removing and replacing the existing roadway and underlying materials down to a depth of approximately 18-24 inches. This operation may encounter and require removal of buried materials such as cobblestones and streetcar rails and ties. This can sometimes slow the work.

What to expect during this construction:

• The work will be performed in Phases to minimize disruption.It is expected that excavation and reconstruction of the roadbed will take approximately two weeks, beginning at Kinnaird Street and working towards Fairmont Street in the left lane. Work will then proceed from Fairmont Street back to Kinnaird Street in the right lane.This work will occur during normal weekday hours of 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

   

• Following roadbed reconstruction, asphalt paving will be performed. This is anticipated for approximately the week of June 15 during normal daytime work hours.

   

• Pedestrian traffic will be maintained but certain sidewalks and crosswalks will be closed at certain times. Please follow posted pedestrian routes and police officer directions at all times for your safety.

   

• Bicycle traffic will be maintained but will operate in a shared lane with vehicles through the work zone. At times when the asphalt paving has been removed, cyclists may prefer to detour to other streets rather than ride on a gravel surface. Advance signs will be posted to alert cyclists of unpaved roadway conditions.

   

• Vehicular traffic will generally be maintained. However, there will be lane reductions on River Street.There will also be times when vehicles must be operated slowly and cautiously on an un-paved gravel surface. In addition, access to side streets will be impacted at times, and some one-way streets will need to temporarily operate as 2-way streets.

   

• There will be temporary bus stop changes and closures during this work.Please follow posted signs and MBTA bus alerts for more detailed information.

Parking and Loading

• On-street parking and loading spaces will be impacted during this work.Drivers should pay careful attention to parking restrictions, which will be posted at least 24 hours in advance.
• During portions of this work, the roadway will be lower, making the curbs higher for parked cars.Please use caution when opening car doors as to not damage them.
• PGS and the City will work with individual businesses to accommodate loading requirements and driveway access during construction.

For Information and Assistance During Construction

Cambridge DPW staff will be on-site during this work and will be available to respond to questions and concerns.  

In addition, if you have general questions or concerns about this work or the River Street project in general, you may contact Kristen Kelleher, DPW Community Relations Manager at (617) 349-4825 or kkelleher@cambridgema.gov.  More information about the project in general, can be found at Cambridgema.gov/RiverStreet.

In case of a construction emergency, please call the Cambridge Public Works Department 24-hour hotline at 617-349-4800.