Around Town

Mt. Auburn Project: Sidewalk Work in Coolidge Sq., Drainage Installation Near Walnut St.

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Caution tape blocks off an area of sidewalk under construction in Coolidge Square in early June 2026. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Sidewalks will be torn up in some places, and repoured in other sections of Mt. Auburn Street in Coolidge Square during the week of June 22-26. Also, drainage will be installed in the area from Walnut Street to Spruce Street. See the impacts and other details in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below.

Business

Coolidge Square Businesses Navigating Sidewalk Work During Mt. Auburn Street Project

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Caution tape blocks off an area of sidewalk under construction in Coolidge Square in early June 2026. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Last week, looking out the window of her business, Artemis Yoga owner Liz Padula saw orange cones, yellow caution tape, gravel, and signs saying “no parking” and “sidewalk closed.” The construction zone — in front of the studio and other businesses on the block between Arlington Street and Bigelow Avenue — is part of the Mt. Auburn Street Project. In an effort to keep clients coming in, she decided to make some social media.

Around Town

Sidewalk Work Continues in Coolidge Square This Week

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The process of removing, reconfiguring, and pouring new sidewalks in Coolidge Square continues during the week of June 15, 2026. See more details in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. Sidewalk Grading & Forming

Sidewalk fine grading will take place at School Street and Hillside Road. Sidewalk forming will take place between Winsor Ave. and Hillside Road.

Around Town

Sidewalk Work Continues in Coolidge Square This Week During Mt. Auburn St. Project

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Crews will be doing sidewalk work in multiple parts of Mt. Auburn Street this week, including in the business district in Coolidge Square. Businesses will remain open during the construction, some may be accessible only using rear entrances. See more details in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. Concrete Removal

Concrete sidewalk panels will be removed along the eastbound side of Mount Auburn Street between Bigelow Ave.

Around Town

New Public Art Opens in Area of Watertown Facing Years of Road Construction

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“Transitions” by MASARY Studios, one of the new art installations in Coolidge Square. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Coolidge Square, the heart of East Watertown, will be a construction zone for the next few years, but the area has a pair of new public art pieces to bring a little joy to the area that will endure the chaos of road and sidewalk replacement. https://youtu.be/Yud2pRsSWrU

The project, called “Open for Business,” includes “Transitional,” which incorporates materials you might find in construction — sheets of aluminum and the white and yellow reflective tags used on roads — to create a piece that changes as you look at it from different angles. The piece was created by MASARY Studios, which also produced the Solstice light show at Mount Auburn Cemetery. “Transitional” is on the wall on the side of Coolidge Hardware, on Kimball Road at the corner of Mt.

Around Town

Tour the New Public Art in Coolidge Square During “Open for Business”

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

The City of Watertown invites the community to celebrate the intersection of art and commerce at the opening reception for “Open for Business,” a public art initiative featuring two new site-specific installations in the heart of Coolidge Square. The reception will take place on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the artists, experience the completed works, and explore the diverse local businesses that define the character of the square. Launched during the Mount Auburn Street reconstruction, “Open for Business” was designed to maintain the vibrancy of the district and encourage foot traffic during a period of infrastructure transformation. “These installations serve as a beacon, drawing residents and visitors to rediscover our cherished local establishments,” says Liz Helfer, Public Arts & Culture Planner. “By bringing world-class art to our sidewalks, we are turning a period of construction into an opportunity for discovery.”

Around Town

Contractors Coordinating with East End Businesses Ahead of Sidewalk Replacements

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Kristopher Surette of Tighe & Bond shows the plans for the Mt. Auburn Street Project to members of the Coolidge Square business community. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Businesses in Coolidge Square will face some disruptions from the construction taking place over the spring, summer, and fall of 2026. Sidewalks will be ripped up and replaced as part of the Mt. Auburn Street Project.

Around Town

Sidewalk and Road Work Will Impact Coolidge Square, East Watertown This Week

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The Mt. Auburn Street project continues with sidewalk work from near the Cambridge line to Arlington Street, while drainage work will take place in Coolidge Square. See details in the announcement provided by the City of Watertown. Sidewalk Excavation Begins At Cambridge Line

Excavation of the eastbound sidewalk and curbing on Mount Auburn Street between Belmont Street and Arlington Street will begin on Monday, October 6, 2025 from 7 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 6, 2025 at 7 a.m. A bypass sidewalk on the eastbound side will be opened up while this work is being completed.