Ref: <a href=”http://www.somervillevoices.org/2010/06/06/events/east-somerville-community-meeting/”>6/9/10 East Somerville Community Meeting </a>

SUMMARY: Construction starting right now on roads and infrastructure at and around Assembly Square. IKEA not to start construction until after Spring 2011. Planned improvements to Kensington Ave. pedestrian crossing from Stop & Shop to Assembly Square.

At least 40 people attended, 10 city employees, the rest mostly from East Somerville.

Construction of road and sewer infrastructure is to start in Assembly Square and in adjoining neighborhoods this summer. There are to be construction updates every 3 weeks at <a href=”http://www.somervillema.gov/CoS_Content/documents/3WweekSchdueleForAssemlbySquare.pdf”>Construction Schedule (PDF)</a>. IKEA is still coming, and the future (Federal Realty) develiopment is to start soon. IKEA will not start until the infrastructure is complete. Infrastructure includes gas, water, sewer, and electric.

Tim McIntosh from VHB spoke about Mass DOT project limits: Rt. 28 through Lombardi, Mystic River through Mystic Ave. Reconstruction on signals at Rt. 28 and Assembly Square Drive. New roadway behind existing parking lot to New Road.  New signals to have countdown walk lights, wheelchair ramps, bike lanes.

Lombardi: Rebuild existing signals, add new signal at I-93 off ramp, improve pedestrian crossing.

Important improvements to pedestrian crosswalk at Kensington Avenue from Assembly Square to Mystic Avenue near Shaw’s. Additional signage.

Have $15 M in ARRA money, controlled by state.

Broadway streetscape at 75% design, undergoing state review.

Assembly Square Orange Line T-Stop at 75% design, to go to bid this year.

Will be same street design at Lombardi Street as on Assembly Square Drive. Traffic management plan available on city web site. Businesses to stay open, ramps provided.

Carlene Campbell is Community Relations person and ADA Coordinator. Attends biweekly meetings on construction coordination. By standard procedure, contract must send notification fliers 5 days in advance.

455 days of work are required to complete project. No work December and January.

Contractor is Newport Construction, President Toney Burley spoke. Already start work inside the fence at Foley Street. To start at Route 28 and Middlesex Avenue. Plan is to be done before  Thanksgiving holidays, will work behind parking lot after that (out of the way). At Lombardi Street, will work 9 AM – 3 PM.

New gas mains are required from Broadway to IKEA, also power mains. Will try to avoid service interruptions, but if a rip cap breaks, there’ll be an interruption.

Roy Curry (MWRA): Lombardi Street near Mt. Vernon. Broke out 2 sites to fix valves and manholes. On Broadway, June 16, installing 30 inch valve.

National Grid (gas company): 12″ medium pressure gas pipe being added, tied to existing 12″ at Pinckney Street past Mt. Vernon. Will require 3 weeks work. Will extend to IKEA along Assembly Square Drive, at total of 4400 ft of pie. Will be paid for by National Grid up to Mt. Vernon, by FRIT Pinckney from Lombardi to IKEA. Will start at Pinckney & Pearl Stret beginning of August.

IKEA gets its gas from t he Assembly Square Drive 12″ medium pressure pipe. An  8 week project.

There will be a trench on Mt. Vernon street. Should still be parking most places.

Question: I assume the 12″ pipe was sized for the whole Assembly Square buildout.

Answer: Infrastructure should support whole development.

Question: Lots of people walk through from East Somerville to Assembly Square at Kensington. When will you be improving that? The Assembly Square T-Stop opens 2013 or 2014.

Answer: Their project stops at Foley street.

Comment: Shouldn’t wait until T-Stop arrives.

Answer: Plan on passive flashing yellow detecting presence of pedestrian at crossing.

Comment: Passthrough under I-93 really filthy, it’s hard to find the crossing place. Somerville police interjected that they were aware of how bad the pedestrian crossing was.

Question: Can you coordinate the Lombardi Street signals with the lights at the Sullivan Square rotary?

Answer: Project is at 100% design. Won’t change now.

Comment: Want a Mt. Vernon Street Green Arrow.

Answer: Give your contact info to Carlene and she’ll get back to you.

Comment: Should talk to Boston about the lights at Sullivan. Is a project right now at Rutherford Ave.

The walkway under Lombardi Street will be improved with elevated side, improved l ighting, etc.  Self-Storage building staying.

IKEA plans to get a building permit this year. Can’t break ground until road work is done, so will start after Spring 2011.

Question: Are you rebuilding the flyover ramps at Sullivan Square?

Answer: No.

Question: With all the sewer construction, there are a lot of rats around.

Answer: Talk with DPW.