Around Town

DCR Reopens Watertown Roadway Along Charles River

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A stretch of Greenough Boulevard in Watertown has reopened after about three months of being closed to motor vehicle traffic. Because the roadway is along the Charles River, it falls under the control of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. A screenshot of a Google Map showing the section of Greenough Boulevard closed by the DCR for recreation use. It stretches from North Beacon Street to Arsenal Street. The section of Greenough that runs between between Arsenal and North Beacon streets was closed on April 11.

Around Town

Portion of Bike Path Along Charles River Closed for Repairs

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The Department of Conservation and Recreation announced that the bike path between Arsenal Street and North Beacon Street will be closed for repairs beginning June 1. The work on the path, which runs along Greenough Boulevard in Watertown and Soldiers Field Road in Boston, is expected to be take two weeks. \The DCR sent out the following information:

DCR Recreational Advisory: Dr. Paul Dudley White Bike Path

WHAT: Starting on Monday, June 1, 2020, and continuing through Monday, June 15, 2020, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will implement a closure of the Dr. Paul Dudley White Bike Path in the City of Boston and the Town of Watertown between North Beacon Street and Arsenal Street from 8:00AM to 4:00PM to accommodate pathway reconstruction work. An alternative route is available along Greenough Boulevard in the Town of Watertown. Furthermore, pedestrian patterns will be clearly marked.

Around Town

DCR Closing Grove Street in Watertown on Four Days in May

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The following information was provided by the Department of Conservation and Recreation:

On Sunday, May 3, 2020, Sunday, May 10, 2020, Sunday, May 17, 2020, and Monday, May 18, 2020, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will implement parkway lane closures along Grove Street in the Town of Watertown between Greenough Boulevard and Coolidge Avenue from 7:00PM to 5:00AM to conduct paving operations. Traffic patterns will be clearly marked, and a police detail will be on site. WHERE:       Grove Street in the Town of Watertown between Greenough Boulevard and Coolidge Avenue

WHEN:          Sunday, May 3, 2020, Sunday, May 10, 2020, Sunday May 17, 2020, and Monday May 18, 2020. 7:00PM to 5:00AM

Around Town

State Closes Part of Greenough Blvd. to Traffic So it Can be Used by Pedestrians, Bicycles

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A screenshot of a Google Map showing the section of Greenough Boulevard closed by the DCR for recreation use. It stretches from North Beacon Street to Arsenal Street. A section of Greenough Boulevard in Watertown along the Charles River has been closed to traffic to allow people to use it for recreation. The Department of Conservation and Recreation closed Greenough between Arsenal and North Beacon streets starting last weekend. The DCR’s announcement said, in part: “To expand pedestrian and cyclist access, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will open segments of three parkways in the Greater Boston Metro Area for recreational use starting Saturday, April 11, 2020 at dawn.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Join Other Departments to Patrol Along Charles River

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Police from Watertown, Waltham, Newton and the State Police will patrol the Charles River this summer. Pictured L to R, Capt. Dowling (Newton PD), Capt. Rodley (Waltham PD), Lt. Dear (MSP
Brighton), Chief Lawn, Capt. Dupuis

The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department:

The Massachusetts State Police, Waltham Police Department, Watertown Police Department, and Newton Police Department, along with the Department of Conservation and Recreation, are partnering in a summer initiative to enhance safety along the Riverwalk and other parkland along the Charles River Upper Basin. Troopers and Officers this weekend will launch Project Safe Summer, a joint patrol initiative that recognizes the four police agencies’ shared responsibility to enhance public safety along this serene area popular with walkers, runners, cyclists, and nature lovers. Teams consisting of members from each of the four departments will patrol the Upper Basin parklands and work collaboratively to address quality-of-life issues and other public concerns. The joint teams will patrol the area at various times, supplementing existing regular patrols.

Bicycle Pedestrian Path

Advocates Celebrate Groundbreaking for Path Linking Watertown to Fresh Pond

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The contingent from Watertown scoops a ceremonial shovel full of dirt at the groundbreaking for the Cambridge-Watertown Greenway Phase 2. Pictured, from left, longtime advocates Janet Jameson and Deborah Peterson, Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon, State Rep. Jonathan Hecht, Town Councilor Lisa Feltner, Senior Planner Gideon Schreiber, and Senior Transportation Planner Laura Wiener. Photo by Charlie Breitrose

People from Watertown and Cambridge gathered near Fresh Pond on a chilly morning to celebrate the beginning of construction of a path many years in the making that completes an important link between the Charles River to other path networks. Wednesday’s groundbreaking for the Cambridge-Watertown Greenway Phase 2 came 35 years after a pair of Watertown residents began advocating for the path that can be used by bicyclists, walkers and runners to get from East Watertown to Fresh Pond and link up to other major bike and pedestrian paths. The project will create a 16 foot wide, landscaped path along the former railroad bed from Fresh Pond to Arlington Street in Watertown.

Transportation

Lane Closures on Charles River Road Overnight Through Mid Next Week

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The Town of Watertown released the announcement from the Department of Conservation and Recreation:

Starting tonight, Thursday, August 9, 2018, and continuing through Wednesday, August 15, 2018, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will implement some lane closures along Charles River Road in the Town of Watertown from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. to accommodate pavement markings operations. Work is dependent on weather, and is not likely to occur on all seven days. While pavement markings are being placed, some noise will be generated as it is applied to the roadway surface. Traffic patterns will be clearly visible and a police detail will be on site. WHERE: Charles River Road in the Town of Watertown

WHEN: Thursday, August 9, 2018 – Wednesday, August 15, 2018 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

Changes Coming to Charles River Road, Including New Crosswalks, Re-striping of Road

Around Town

Changes Coming to Charles River Road, Including New Crosswalks, Re-striping of Road

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A representative from the Department of Conservation and Recreation visited Charles River Road last week to speak with neighbors about how to make the newly repaved roadway safer, including adding more crosswalks. The tour was organized by State Sen. Will Brownsberger and State Rep. Jonathan Hecht. The goal of the re-striping is to increase the connections to between the neighborhood, the Charles River, the Riverside Park, as well as slowing traffic, said Jeffrey Parenti, Deputy Chief Engineer of the DCR’s Division of Planning and Engineering. After the new striping, there will be some changes to Charles River Road. The roadway will remain one lane in each direction for motor vehicles, and there will bebike lanes in each direction.