Woburn Announces 'Concrete Step' Toward Cedar Street I-93 On-Ramp

Press release from Woburn Mayor Scott Galvin's office:

WOBURN, Mass. (October 20, 2021) – A major meeting of the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) board recently culminated in a concrete step toward alleviating local traffic around the I-93/I-95 interchange.

A key aspect of the plan will provide Washington Street traffic with an additional entrance point to I-93 South. Rather than first traveling onto I-95, commuters will access I-93 South via a short new on-ramp at the end of Woburn’s Cedar Street, beyond BJ’s Wholesale Club and Kelly Nissan. This proposed roadway enhancement is not expected to require any land takings from local businesses or residents. The project will, however, benefit from two small land donations. Kelly Nissan and Woburn-based Cummings Properties are offering the land at no cost to the City or Commonwealth.

“This is a project with great potential to reduce traffic congestion not only for our residents and area businesses but also for our neighboring communities,” Mayor Scott Galvin said.

The concept of a Cedar Street on-ramp was initially conceived by Cummings Properties, which then advanced it successfully with Mayor Galvin in collaboration with Ward 5 Councilor Darlene Mercer-Bruen and the Woburn City Council. “We are pleased to continue our active advocacy of a project whose far-reaching impact will benefit our clients, their visitors, and the greater Woburn community,” said Cummings Properties chairman and CEO Dennis Clarke.

The MPO has engaged its Central Transportation Planning Staff to assess the project’s potential benefits. Its formal study will complement the ongoing factfinding efforts of the project advisory committee named by Mayor Galvin to help advance the project.

Brian Murrihy, executive project leader at Cummings, has been appointed to chair the Mayor’s project advisory committee. The advisory committee also includes Ward 5 City Councilor Mercer-Bruen and local business owner of Locks and Keys and Accurate Glass, John Casey.

“The core benefits of the Cedar Street on-ramp proposal, are its potential to alleviate both interchange and local road congestion, at a very low estimated project cost,” said Murrihy. “The creation of a supplementary on-ramp to I-93 is readily constructible, and will yield a dramatic improvement to traffic in Woburn and surrounding communities, and create additional capacity on the vital I-93 and I-95 regional corridors.”

Ward 5 Councilor Darlene Mercer Bruen said, “Woburn’s unique partnership with its business community and residents has already helped to expedite this project and bring us one step closer to relieving traffic up and down Washington Street. I look forward to extending that partnership to our friends in Reading, Stoneham, and Winchester, who also feel the burden of this congested corridor.”

A detailed overview and video presentation of the proposed improvements to the I-93/I-95 interchange are available at improve93s.com.

This press release was produced by Mayor Scott Galvin's office. The views expressed are the author's own.