Government

See Details of Plans to Redesign Mt. Auburn, Common Streets

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Watertown officials joined transportation engineers Thursday night to present concepts for two major roadway projects that aim to improve safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. The public forum, held during a meeting of the Town Council’s Public Works Committee, provided an update on the Mt. Auburn Street reconstruction project as well as early designs for the Common Street improvement project. Residents were given the opportunity to weigh in on goals of the projects and provide feedback on design concepts. “We are very early in the process of these projects and this is the first of many community meetings we will have,” said Councilor Cecilia Lenk, who chairs the Public Works Committee.

Government

Hear About the Mt. Auburn St., Orchard/Common Streets Projects

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Two major road projects in Watertown will be coming down the line, and town officials will hold an informational meeting about the renovations of Mt. Auburn Street and the Orchard Street/Common Street area. 

The Town Council’s Public Works Committee will hold the informational meeting will share the latest details of the two projects on Thursday, May 14 from 7-9 p.m. at Tufts Health Care’s Cafe Room, 705 Mt Auburn St. in Watertown. Public works staff and engineers will be present to explain the design concepts, and there will be plenty of time for questions by residents, said Councilor Cecilia Lenk, chairwoman of the subcommittee. Mt.

Government

Town’s Vision for Common Street Includes a Rotary at Orchard Street

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Department of Public Works officials showed Town Councilors the first draft of improvements they would like to make to Common Street, which includes installing a rotary at the intersection with Orchard Street. 

The intersection can be very dicey for motorists, and Public Works officials have been working on ways to make it safer.  

Currently, cars on Common Street – which includes a long hill leading into the intersection – have no stop sign or light, but the intersection also includes not just one but two other streets – Orchard Street and Church Street. Both those streets have stop signs, but seeing cars coming down Common – particularly down the hill – can be difficult.

Tuesday night, Town Engineer Matt Schuman showed the Public Works subcommittee a drawing of the rotary. Another change will be an alteration to the intersection of Common and Spring streets, right across from Watertown High School. The present configuration has Spring Street enter Common at an angle as Common curves.