Memorial Day Weekend Traffic Impacts Beginning May 23 through May 27

Expect significant traffic impacts in and around Harvard Square on Thursday, May 23, due to Harvard Commencement events.

Road closures are as follows:

• Quincy Street from Broadway to Harvard Street from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Appian Way from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In addition to Harvard Square, there will be traffic impacts due to the following nearby road closures:

• Mt Auburn at JFK Street - Mt Auburn Street will be closed to Eastbound Traffic
• Brattle Square at Eliot Street - Vehicles will not be allowed to reenter Harvard Square. Traffic flows West on Brattle Street
• JFK Street at Massachusetts Avenue - Massachusetts Avenue closed to Northbound traffic; all vehicles directed to Brattle Street
• Memorial Drive at JFK Street - JFK Street will be closed to Northbound traffic
• Memorial Drive at Plympton Street - Plympton Street closed to Northbound traffic
• Massachusetts Avenue at Garden Street - Massachusetts Avenue closed to Southbound traffic

Vehicle and bicycle traffic may be impacted by processionals through the area.

Commencement activities on Thursday include:

• Processionals between 7:45 a.m. and 9:20 a.m.
• Commencement Ceremony from 9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
• Luncheons and diploma-award ceremonies in the afternoon

If you are traveling through the area, please pay attention to signage, message boards, and/or directions from members of the Cambridge Police Department.

Expect traffic impacts and road closures due to events taking place over the Memorial Day weekend. Events include: 

The Boston Calling Music Festival will take place at the Harvard Athletic Complex in Allston from Friday, May 24 through Sunday, May 26. Expect street closures in Harvard Square between 9 p.m. and midnight each night. Cambridge residents who experience noise or other impacts from the event should contact the Boston Calling Hotline at 617-752-2564 or call the City of Cambridge Non-Emergency Line at 617-349-3300.

Road Closures and Traffic Impacts:

• Beginning at 9 p.m., N. Harvard Street, in Allston, will be closed to allow for maximum attendee departure and pedestrian safety.

• Cambridge PD plans the following street closures at 9 p.m. as well:

  • JFK from Mass Ave. to the River
  • Mass Ave. from Garden to JFK/Brattle
  • Mt. Auburn from Brattle to Dunster
  • Brattle Street at Mt. Auburn
  • Church Street from Mass Ave. to Palmer Street
  • Palmer Street
  • South Street from JFK to Dunster
  • Mt. Auburn Street from Hawthorn Street into Harvard Square, may occur at other peak pedestrian times

Boston's Run to Remember will take place along the Charles River on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, beginning at 7 a.m. The race route begins and ends in Boston, but a portion of the half marathon takes runners through Cambridge on Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation property along Edwin Land Boulevard and Memorial Drive. 

Cambridge road closures include:

• Starting Sunday, May 26 at 7 pm DCR will close portions of Memorial Drive from Gerrys Landing Road to Cambridgeside Place to accommodate the race.

The entire road will reopen to vehicular traffic on Monday, May 27, at 2 pm

Additional road closures happening in Boston can be found here.