Join the Spring Hill Sewer Separation Virtual Spring Community Meeting on May 15

The Spring Hill Sewer Separation project is well underway, and Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and Ward 3 Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen invite you to join a virtual community meeting to learn about construction progress and upgrades to come. The project aims to reduce water pollution, address flooding, and modernize Somerville’s infrastructure. Once utility work on Highland Avenue (including Eversource’s Gas Main upgrade project) is done, interim paving of eastern Highland Avenue can begin. 

The meeting will take place Wednesday, May 15, at 6 p.m. Visit somervillema.gov/springhill to learn more and attend the meeting. For those unable to attend, a recording of the presentation will be available on the project website, as well as on City YouTube and the City’s GovTV channels.  

At the meeting, City staff will review progress made to date and present an overview of the work planned for this upcoming spring and summer. Featured updates include a review of recent sewer/drainage utility upgrades along Summer Street between School Street and Bow Street and a look ahead to streetscape improvements beginning later this spring on Central Street. Following the presentation, residents will have the opportunity to ask questions about the project and construction process.  
Somerville’s Spring Hill neighborhood is currently served by a combined sewer system, which collects both wastewater and stormwater runoff in the same pipes. Through the Sewer Separation project, the City is working to upgrade these systems by installing new storm drains that separate stormwater from the existing combined sewer.   
In addition to the underground utility improvements, this project will also install street safety improvements and green infrastructure throughout the neighborhood.  Green infrastructure includes trees as well as drainage features designed to mimic natural processes such as irrigated planting areas, bioretention basins with select soils and plants that catch and filter stormwater.

This project is one in a series of actions the City is undertaking to reduce water pollution, address flooding, and modernize Somerville’s infrastructure. Construction began in 2022 and is expected to continue through 2025. 
 

Highland Avenue Interim Paving 
Following completion of utility work on Highland Avenue, the City will be paving the two travel lanes of the roadway (approximately 28-feet wide). This partial paving, which does not include the parking areas next to the curbs, is intended to restore the road surface travel areas. This is an interim measure to support safe travel for all users of the road until the full redesign and reconstruction of Highland Avenue. Paving is on schedule to occur in early summer of 2024. This interim paving is expected to extend from roughly McGrath Highway to Benton Road.

Accessibility  

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City or to attend meetings, should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Adrienne Pomeroy, at 617-625-6600 x2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.   

Interpretation/Translation  

The City of Somerville will strive to provide you with an interpreter for free if requested in advance. To request an interpreter in your language, please contact the SomerViva Office of Immigrant Affairs at somervillema.gov/ContactSomerviva or call 311 (617-666-3311).  

GovTV Recording  

This event will be videotaped by the City’s GovTV team. Watch it on-demand with optional closed-captioning (select the CC icon) on YouTube.com/SomervilleCityTV. Or watch on cable TV at GovTV Comcast Ch. 22 and GovTV Astound (RCN) Ch. 13 & 613.  Videos generally post within one business day of recording.