Newton-Needham Corridor Project: Work To Begin In Newton

NEWTON, MA — Work will begin on the Newton side of the $31.1 million Needham Street to Highland Avenue redesign project this month, according to MassDOT. Contractors said it's possible that the project may be amended to include replacing Newton's aging watermain.

"Utility work in Newton is anticipated to begin in February 2021, with surface work anticipated to begin in fall 2021," according to MassDOT officials during a public meeting Wednesday night.

The majority of work will happen during daytime hours; however, some work such as paving will require nighttime work, officials said.

MassDOT said two-way traffic and access to cross streets and driveways shouldn't be disrupted and police details will help guide drivers through the construction zone.

The project includes an overhaul of Needham Street, the portion of Winchester Street up to Route 9, the bridge over the Charles River and a portion of Highland Avenue in Needham. The project is scheduled to finish in 2023.

"It's the biggest road construction project to touch our region in a generation," Newton-Needham Chamber President Greg Reibman said last year. "It will significantly improve the corridor for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and buses."

It will also mean traffic, he said.

But this has been long in coming.

For decades local and state players have been talking about what to do with the entire 2-mile corridor that stretches from Route 9 into Needham - then in 2013 they landed on the idea of making it part of an "N-squared" innovation corridor. As part of that district renovation, plans launched to revitalize the 2-mile strip along Needham Street into Newton complete with bike lanes and new sidewalk and improvements on the Charles River bridge, making it safer for pedestrians and bikers as well as cars.

Construction began in late 2020 on the Needham end of the project. Crews are working on installing new utility poles and wires as they prepare to expand sidewalks throughout the entire corridor this year. From Webster Street to Hunting Road and Wexford Street to Charles River Bridge along Needham and Highland Avenue crews are working to install new drainage and traffic signal infrastructure in Needham. Then crews will move on to Newton to do the same from the Oak Street, Christina Street intersection to Tower Road.

Crews are aiming to install a retaining wall at Needham and Oak streets and then continue working on drainage and water work and underground traffic signal infrastructure installation from Tower Road to Winchester Street.

Pavement work in Needham won't begin until the summer, according to officials. The Charles River Bridge is also set to redone in the summertime.

Officials said they plan to keep one lane open during that construction so as not to have to detour traffic.

Although it's not in the contract yet, MassDOT officials said given Newton's aging watermain, they were exploring the possibility of replacing the main in Newton before paving began along Needham Street. Stay tuned for a public meeting on that some 30 days ahead of any possible work on it, they said.

According to MassDOT, work will mostly take place from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. And, during rush hour all lanes will be open, according to the contractor.

Read more: About past meetings and the project plans.