Most Recent Updates

Last updated on March 28, 2025

Mount Auburn St. Construction Update for Week of March 31-April 4

Drainage Installation Continues onto Bigelow Ave. | Expect Detours 

Newport Construction will continue installing drainage on Bigelow Ave. between Mount Auburn Street and Wells Ave, closing this section to traffic. Construction crews will be working in this area from 7 AM to 5 PM. This work will begin when the above drainage work on the westbound side of Mount Auburn St. is completed.

Traffic Impacts
The construction area on Bigelow Avenue, between Wells Avenue and Mount Auburn Street will be closed to traffic. Vehicles traveling eastbound on Mount Auburn Street and turning onto Bigelow Ave will be redirected via Arlington Street, then Wells Ave. Vehicles on Bigelow Ave heading toward Mount Auburn Street will be redirected to Merrifield Ave. and Arlington St. to reach Mount Auburn Street. Detour signs will be present in the area to help navigate (see map below for detour details). Sidewalks will be narrowed but remain accessible, and business entrances will be maintained.

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.   

Bus Stop Relocation
The bus stop will remain relocated during this time. Please see above for the relocation information

Westbound Drainage Installation on Mount Auburn | Bus Stop Relocation Planned

This work will begin when the above drainage work on Mount Auburn St. and Bigelow Ave is completed. Newport Construction will be continuing drainage on the westbound side of the Mount Auburn St intersection between Kimball Rd. and Irma Ave. Construction crews will be operating in this area from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Traffic Impacts
Expect lane shifts in this area. Traffic will continue to flow in each direction, though narrowed to one lane in each direction.  Police details will assist to maintain the traffic flow in both directions. Sidewalks in the construction area will be narrowed, but remain accessible. 

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 prior to beginning work in the morning and will be removing them from the area by 5pm each day. You can still find metered parking outside the immediate construction zone on Mount Auburn Street, as well as on Wells Avenue and in the Wells Avenue municipal parking lot. 
 

Bus Stop Impacts (Map below)
The bus stop for Route 71 at Mount Auburn St and Bigelow Ave will continue to be temporarily relocated during the construction period. We ask that you board on the southeast corner on Mount Auburn Street and Arlington Street (as depicted above). This bus stop is anticipated to be relocated through April 4. 2025. We will share an update about this bus stop relocation on Friday, April 4. For more details on Route 71, visit the MBTA's schedules and maps.

(Note: All dates are approximate and will be dependent on weather conditions and any testing yet to be performed.)

Getting Around Coolidge Square

During 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!

About the Project

The Mount Auburn Street project was initiated after a conceptual design was endorsed by the Town Council in November 2018. The Project Team submitted the 25% Design to the MassDOT in January 2020, and MassDOT held a 25% Design Public Hearing on November 4, 2021. Since then, the project team has submitted 100% Design plans for the corridor. 

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.