Roadwork continues this week around town, impacting Mt. Auburn Street, Arsenal Street, Main Street and North Beacon Street. See information below about the Mt. Auburn Project provided by the City of Watertown and manhole replacement projects provided by Eversource.
Mt. Auburn Street Project
There will be no work performed on Friday, July 4, 2025, due to the Independence Day holiday.
Beginning Monday, June 30, 2025, Newport Construction will resume drainage installation on Mount Auburn Street between Lloyd Road and Upland Road.
Traffic and Sidewalk Impacts
During this work, you can expect temporary lane shifts and possibly lane closures, but one travel lane in each direction will remain on Mount Auburn Street. Work will take place on the sidewalks, but they will remain open and accessible. Business entrances will be maintained as well. Work in these areas will begin at 7am.
Parking Impacts
Street parking in the construction area on Mount Auburn Street during this phase will be restricted. Construction crews will post parking closure signs in those areas starting at 7am and will be removing them from the area by 5pm each day.
(Note: All dates are approximate and will be dependent on weather conditions and any testing yet to be performed.)
Resources from the City’s Economic Development TeamDuring construction in the Coolidge Square area, Watertown’s Economic Development team developed the below graphic to help residents get around Coolidge Square, whether by car, bike, bus, or walking. Keep up-to-date with any road closures, bus stop impacts, or parking limitations in the work detailed above! A larger version of this map can be found at Mount Auburn Street’s project website.
About the Project
The Mount Auburn Street Project will transform the corridor into a Complete Street, providing safe and accessible options for all modes. This project will also provide increased efficiency on the MBTA Bus Route 71, improve traffic operations and pedestrian and bicycle accommodations, improve accessibility in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and improved aesthetics.
We will post construction schedules and other work notifications consistently on the project website, and via the City’s social media accounts. You can sign up to receive project email updates here. For questions, please visit the website’s FAQ or email the project team directly.
Eversource Project Update
June 30 – July 12
There will be no project activity on Friday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.
Crews are working at manhole locations along the project route in Watertown, Waltham, and Brighton for up to three weeks per location. This work is focused on upgrading and maintaining the underground manhole structure. Work activities at individual manhole locations will involve setting up a safe and secure worksite, excavating around the manhole, performing maintenance on underground electric infrastructure, and final restoration. Steel plates will be utilized to safely secure the roadway at the end of each shift. Please be assured that the work outlined below will not interrupt your electrical service.
Click here to view the project map
Eversource and its contractors are continuing work related to the Waltham, Watertown to Brighton Reliability Project, an effort aimed at boosting the reliability and capacity of the electric system serving the area.
Work Locations in Watertown
Some activities may require 7am – 7pm work on weekends based on approval from city officials.
Ongoing Work
Continuing with ongoing work at the Watertown Substation on Arsenal Street, Eversource work crews will be upgrading equipment and performing vacuum excavation inside the fence line. Crews are performing maintenence activities at manhole 23265 on N. Beacon Street near Bay Street requiring intermittent work activities. This work is expected to be completed this July.
Crews are performing maintenance activities at manhole 23262 on Main Street by Hersom Street requiring intermittent work activities. This work is expected to be completed in early July.
Crews are excavating the Buried Splice at N. Beacon Street by Irving Street. This work will occur in intermittently in phases and includes excavation, removal and replacement of the buried splice, and roadway restoration. Steel road plates will be used to safely secure the roadway at the end of each shift until completed.
Upcoming Work
Later this summer, crews will begin reconductoring two parallel sections of transmission cable between the Watertown Substation and Brighton Buried Splice. Most work will occur at existing manhole sites within city streets, with excavation as needed to repair pipe sections.
Manhole Number / Location
23262 / Main St. by Hersom St.
23263 / Main St. by Waverley Ave.
23264 / N. Beacon St. by N. Beacon Ct.
Watertown Substation / Arsenal St. by Irving St.
Buried Splice / N. Beacon St. by Irving St.
23265 / N. Beacon St. by Bay St.
*Due to the complexities of underground construction and weather, the two-week schedule described above is subject to change.