Somerville Reveals Plans For Tufts Street Reconstruction

SOMERVILLE, MA — The city announced it has finalized its design for the Tufts Street Reconstruction Project.

The project began in the summer of 2023 when city leaders solicited feedback from community members about any safety concerns they had with the area.

Notable components to the design include raised crosswalks that go across Tufts Street at Glen, Dell, and Cross Streets, “pinch points” which narrow the street to naturally calm down traffic level and speed for pedestrians, two-way ability for both vehicles and bicycles, four multipurpose parking spaces, wider sidewalks, and the removal of 21 trees.

The tree removal stems from hearing on Nov. 14 that allowed for their removal. 5 of the trees slated to be uprooted are on Tufts Street, while the remaining ones are on nearby roads such as Knowlton and Glen Streets.

According to the city, its next step is to put the design out for bid, and aims to begin construction before the end of 2025.