Watertown-Cambridge Greenway Construction

The Watertown-Cambridge Greenway, a multi-use pathway along the former Boston & Maine Railroad Line in Watertown and Cambridge, is currently under construction. Once complete, this Greenway will extend from the Arlington St./Nichols Avenue/Crawford St. intersection in Watertown to the entrance of the Cambridge Water Department on Fresh Pond, for a total of 1.25 miles.

The purpose of this project is to enhance pedestrian and bicycle movement in Cambridge and Watertown, while providing an alternative travel option for commuters and recreational users. This multi-use Greenway will provide an important regional connection linking the Charles River Path System, the Minuteman Bikeway, the Alewife Greenway, and the Mystic River Reservation into an interconnected off-road pathway network.

The DCR has passed the construction of the project to MassDOT with Onyx as the General Contractor. Onyx mobilized in August 2018. The main lay down and access area is at Cottage Street in Watertown. The rails and ties have been removed along the entire length except at the entrance to the Water Treatment Plant. The materials have been stockpiled at Cottage Street. The next planned phase will be the tree removals by Vinagro as the sub-contractor. The reasons for removing trees are poor health, safety and construction conflicts.

City of Cambridge from Mount Auburn at Holworthy Street to Huron Avenue Underpass (DCR Property):

• To create an access at Holworthy Street a spur of the bikepath will be constructed with accessibility standards including a retaining wall and proposed railing. This spur will require approximately 400 feet of clearing on the east side of the proposed bikepath from Mount Auburn Street going north. Approximately 16 trees (DBH greater than 6 inches) will be removed in this area.
• To accommodate the bikepath with surface drainage going north from Holworthy Place to Huron Avenue there will need to be trees removed. Approximately 24 trees (DBH greater than 6 inches) will be removed in this area.

City of Cambridge from Huron Avenue Underpass to the entrance of the Water Treatment Plan (City Property with a DCR Easement):

• To accommodate the bikepath with surface drainage, swales, detention basins going north from Huron Avenue to the entrance of the Water Treatment Plant there will need to be trees removed. Approximately 12 trees (DBH greater than 6 inches) will be removed in this area.

• Small Cluster of Red Oaks: located along the former railroad at Huron Ave. The oaks are healthy but conflict with the bikepath and the vegetated drainage swale. The area will be replanted after the bikepath is constructed.
• Small Cluster of Black Walnut: located along the former railroad approaching the Water Treatment Plant on the west side. The walnuts are healthy but conflict with the bike path and a large vegetated detention basin. The area will be replanted after the bikepath is constructed.

• Large Oak: located between the existing bikepath and the proposed bikepath. The oak was measured to have a 37” DBH. There was an open cavity at the base, visible rot as well as fungus growth. The City Arborist also inspected the tree with an IML resistograph to determine shell thickness at 6 locations. The shell thickness varied from 2-10 inches. The lean of the tree was observed to be towards the future bike path. The arborist determined that the state of decay was a safety hazard to the bike path and should be removed.

For additional information about this project, including construction updates, please visit http://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/Projects/Transportation/watertowncambridgegreenway. If you have specific questions or concerns regarding this project, please contact Donny Dailey, MassDOT Liaison- Highway Division in the Office of Government and Public Affairs at 617-945-4272 or DonnyDailey2@dot.state.ma.us.