Sections of Mt. Auburn Street in and around Coolidge Square will be under construction this week beginning Monday. See the impacts on traffic, parking, and sidewalks in the announcement from the City of Watertown below.
Sidewalk Excavation Continues At Cambridge Line
Excavation of the eastbound sidewalk and curbing on Mount Auburn Street between Belmont Street and Arlington Street will continue on Monday, October 13, 2025 from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Learn about travel and parking impacts below.
Traffic and Sidewalk Impacts
The eastbound sidewalk will be closed for excavation starting on Monday, October 13, 2025 at 7:00 a.m. A bypass sidewalk on the eastbound side will be opened up while this work is being completed.
Traffic on Mount Auburn Street will be narrowed and you can expect lane shifts, however traffic will be maintained in both directions. Entrances to driveways and parking lots will be maintained.
Parking Impacts
Parking on the eastbound side of Mount Auburn Street between Belmont Street and Arlington Street will be prohibited while work is active between 7:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. “No parking” signs will be posted in the area and removed at the end of the work each day.
Drainage Installation Continues
Crews will continue drainage installation between Dexter Avenue and Adams Street next week on Mount Auburn Street.
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 be maintained 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 7:00 a.m. each day and end before 5:00 p.m.
Parking Impacts
Street parking in the drainage installation construction area on Mount Auburn Street will be restricted. Construction crews will post parking closure signs in those areas starting at 7:00 a.m. and will be removing them from the area by 5:00 p.m. each day.
Installing Traffic Signal Mast Arms & Resetting Buried Structures
New traffic signal mast arms, the structures that hold the traffic lights, will be installed at the intersections of Mount Auburn Street with Bigelow Avenue and Melendy Avenue.Contractors will be resetting buried utility structures, such as manholes and valve boxes, within the newly paved area along Mount Auburn Street between Arlington Street and Lloyd 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 be maintained on Mount Auburn Street.Mast arm installation work will take place on the sidewalks. While this work is underway, the affected sidewalk area will be closed. Pedestrians will be directed to use the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street.
Business entrances will be maintained as well. Work in these areas will begin at 7:00 a.m. each day and end before 5:00 p.m.
Parking Impacts
Street parking in the construction area on Mount Auburn Street will be restricted. Construction crews will post parking closure signs in those areas starting at 7:00 a.m. and will be removing them from the area by 5:00 p.m. 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.