Construction Notice: Dunster Street Road Closure on Wednesday, September 9, 2026
As part of the Harvard Square Plaza Reconstruction project, Dunster Street at Mass Ave will be closed to vehicular traffic on Wednesday, September 9. (Rain date is Thursday, September 10). Bicyclists will be able to walk their bikes around the project area and pedestrian access will be maintained. This closure will allow the City’s contractor, Newport Construction, to position a concrete pump truck for placing the concrete forms and light pole foundations that are being installed in Harvard Square Plaza.
Dunster Street will reopen by the end of the workday.
What to Expect During Construction:
- General work hours are 7 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Please check posted No Parking signs.
- Detours will be in place.
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.
September 2026:
No work on September 1, Primary Election Day or September 7, Labor Day
Week of September 7:
- Preparation and concrete placement for granite seating wall and light pole foundations
Week of September 14:
- Preparation for waterproofing, concrete placement, utility installations
August 2026:
Week of August 10:
Week of August 17:
Week of August 24:
- Site preparation
- Survey and layout work
- Electrical conduit utility work
Week of August 31:
- Electrical conduit utility work
- Setting underground structures and preparation for concrete foundation installation of light pole bases and granite seating wall
- Excavation and prep work in the Point area
July 2026:
Week of July 13: Survey, layout, sawcutting, and excavation in the new work area
Construction Notice: Next Phase of Work to Begin Week of July 6, 2026
Beginning Monday, July 6, the City’s contractor, Newport Construction, will begin construction activities in a new area of the Harvard Square Plaza. Material deliveries will take place this week in preparation of construction.
The work area will extend into the bike lane on a section of Mass Ave by the Kiosk. The bike lane will be temporarily closed during construction. “Share the Road” signage will be in place to guide cyclists and vehicles. This closure is anticipated to be in place for two (2) months. See the map here for the location of the work area (shaded in green).
Initial work in this phase will include excavation, curb reset, installation of electrical pole bases, conduit installation, and concrete foundation work. Additional work within this phase will be announced in future updates.
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.
- Share the Road signage will be in place.
- Temporary pedestrian detours will be in place.
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.
June 2026:
Week of June 1: Test pits, dewatering, form adjustments
Week of June 8: Layout markings, site prep work
Week of June 15: Test pits, form work, concrete wall prep
Week of June 22: Dewatering, layout and prep work
Week of June 29 (No work Friday, July 3): Survey, site layout, site deliveries
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.
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, 2025
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.
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.