Main Worcester Street Closing For Community Road Safety Event

WORCESTER, MA — Students at Vernon Hill Elementary School will take part in a Vision Zero/Safe Routes to School safety event for most of the day Monday, meaning a temporary partial closure of Providence Street.

The closure will last from about 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., affecting the section of Providence Street between Doane and Ames streets. During that time, the city's Department of Transportation and Mobility, MassBike, Worcester police and other local organizations will facilitate activities for students.

A section of the street will also get new safety updates, including fresh crosswalks and a temporary bike lane to demonstrate how roads can be transformed quickly to increase safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and other vulnerable road users.

The schedule for Monday's event is as follows, according to city officials:

• Painting of crosswalks and intersection by 3rd, 4th, 5th grade art classes 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Setting up temporary curb extensions at crosswalks and protected bike lane to demonstrate a safe school zone.
• Bike skills rodeo taught by MassBike from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Activities and Information booths on Vision Zero and Safe Routes to School from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Surrounding the event, there will be parking restrictions along Providence Street between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. WRTA buses will also be re-routed around the closed section.