The City of Watertown provided the following information about the Mt. Auburn Street Project.
Update: The bus stop for Route 71 at Mount Auburn St and Bigelow Ave that was temporarily relocated will resume its normal location on Saturday April 5, 2025. For more details on Route 71, visit the MBTA’s schedules and maps.
Intersection of Mount Auburn Street & Arlington Street
Electrical Traffic and Pedestrian Signal Work
Starting Monday April 7, 2025 Newport Construction will be installing traffic electrical conduit (underground electrical pipes) at the intersection of Mount Auburn Street and Arlington Street.
Traffic Impacts
Temporary lane shifts may occur and work will take place on the sidewalks, but will remain open and accessible. One travel lane in each direction will remain on Mount Auburn Street.
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. You can still find metered parking in the municipal parking lot on Wells Avenue.
Intersection of Mount Auburn Street and Bigelow Avenue
Electrical Traffic and Pedestrian Signal Work
After the scheduled conduit work is completed at the intersection of Mount Auburn Street and Arlington Street, Newport Construction will be installing traffic electrical conduit (underground electrical pipes) at the intersection of Mount Auburn Street and Bigelow Avenue.
Traffic Impacts
Temporary lane shifts may occur and work will take place on the sidewalks, but will remain open and accessible. One travel lane in each direction will remain on Mount Auburn Street.
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. You can still find metered parking in the municipal parking lot on Wells Avenue(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 Team
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! 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.