Gore Street Utility Construction and Road Reconstruction

**This project has now been completed, there will be no further updates on this page.**

Construction Notice - Final Mobilization starting September 11

On Monday, September 11th, the City’s Contractor, Newport Construction will be mobilizing to Gore Street to complete the work associated with the Gore Street and Rufo Road Project.

Work will include the completion of the multi-use path / sidewalk between the Somerville Line (the train tracks) and Sixth Street, sidewalks at the Third Street intersection, pavement markings, miscellaneous punch list items and sidewalk panel replacements.

Remaining work is expected to take one month.

The City’s Urban Forestry Division is also scheduled to complete all remaining tree plantings along the corridor as part of their fall tree planting program.

Construction Notice - Work at Raised Intersections starting August 3

The City’s contractor, Newport Construction, is schedule to be on Gore Street this Thursday (8/3) and Friday (8/4). They will be working at the intersections of Fifth Street and Third Street to mill and pave the approach ramps to some of the raised intersections.

Please take note of no-parking signs and detours as this work is completed!

Verizon is also scheduled to complete the final wire transfer and utility pole removals between the Somerville line and Sixth Street this week. These removals will allow for Newport to schedule and complete the work on the Shared Use Path at this location. We will follow up with a schedule of the work once the poles are removed.

Thank you for your continued patience with this project!

As of April 2023:

• Below grade utility work, road paving and sidewalks are generally complete. Contractor will be on site periodically completing punch list items

• Larger Scope Items Remaining:

• Final Paving of shared Use Path from Somerville to 6th Street is awaiting private utility companies to relocate wires to allow for old utility poles to be removed. Once poles are removed contractor can mobilize for this operation.

• Sidewalk at Third and Gore: Asphalt Patch along old Firehouse will be replaced with concrete.

• Tree Plantings: Once path is paved, final tree plantings for corridor will occur.

Construction Notice - Reminder final paving on Friday, Oct 28 and Saturday, Oct 29

As a reminder, the City’s contractor, Newport Construction, will continue paving preparations this week with a paving planned for Friday, October 28 and Saturday, October 29.

Paving limits will begin at Gore Street at Third Street and continue toward the Somerville line. Limits also include some intersecting lengths of side streets, Sciarappa, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Lambert.

City Trash, recycling and compost services will be maintained, however, trucks routes may be altered to pick up earlier then a typical week. Please have items curbside at 7am.

We understand parking is extremely restricted. Please obey all signs in order for crews to be efficient in operations.

• Cars in the way of paving operations may be subject to towing.
• If your driveaway is within the limits of new paving, please plan trips accordingly.
• Rideshare users please plan pickups off Gore Street for the duration of all paving operations.

Newly paved areas will be reopened to users as conditions allow, typically within a few hours of completion.

Construction Notice - Final roadway paving to begin October 17

The City’s contractor, Newport Construction, will be prepping and paving Gore Street and Rufo Road beginning the week of October 17th.

The tentative schedule is outlined below, but is weather permitting. Wet weather on scheduled paving days will delay paving until the next dry day. Please visit the project page for any updates regarding rescheduling: www.cambridgema.gov/gorestreet.

Parking will be restricted along the corridor for the duration of this work. Please be mindful of posted signage. Vehicle access in and out of properties will be restricted during work hours while crews perform the paving. Please plan vehicle trips accordingly.

Tentative Schedule is as follows:

• Week of October 17th: Paving preparations (raising castings and milling) and miscellaneous remaining sidewalk work.
• Saturday, October 22nd: Paving of Rufo Road and spot paving along Gore Street
• Week of October 24th: Milling of Gore Street, continued paving preparations
• Thursday, October 27th-Saturday, October 29th: Paving of Gore Street

Any additional restoration items related to the project, including back of sidewalk work and pavement markings, will be completed by the contractor in the coming weeks before the end of construction. Tree planting will also be completed by the City Contractor following this paving work starting late fall and completed in Spring of 2023.

What to Expect during Paving
•General work hours will be 7 AM to 4 PM.
•Vehicle access in and out of properties will be restricted. Please plan vehicle and parking trips accordingly.
•“No Parking” signs will be posted; please be sure to check dates/times.
•Access will be maintained for emergency vehicles and City services.

We understand that paving operations can be disruptive to the neighborhood but hope that the resulting resurfaced road before winter will provide some reward for you!

Construction Notice- Curb and Sidewalk Work Continuing Through the Summer

The City’s contractor, Newport Construction, has been able to make good progress on sidewalk work, thanks to dry weather conditions. Crews will continue making their way to Msgr. O’Brien Highway, removing and resetting curbing, and then installing new sidewalks.

They will also install the raised intersections along Gore Street at the following locations:

• Seventh St.
• Fifth St.
• Third St.

Sidewalk work will last July through September, weather permitting. Final paving of Gore St. will take place fall 2022, weather permitting.

What to Expect During Construction:

• General work hours will be 7am – 4pm, Monday-Friday.
• Please check posted No Parking signs.
• Please follow pedestrian detour signs.
• Access to properties will be maintained, when possible.
• Access will be maintained for emergency vehicles and City services.

Construction Notice - Work in Twin City Mall Parking Lot Beginning 5/31/2022

Installation of a concrete pad has begun a the Lambert Street and Gore Street corner of Twin City Mall parking lot. This concrete pad will host a new Bluebikes station. Learn more about the Bluebikes bike sharing system here.

Construction Notice- Curb and Sidewalk Work Beginning 4/4/2022

As part of the ongoing street and sidewalk reconstruction work on Gore Street, the City’s contractor, Newport Construction, will remobilize the week of April 4th to continue curb and sidewalk work.

Crews will begin at the Somerville end of the Gore Street, near Twin City Plaza and will continue toward Msgr. O’Brien Highway.   Work includes removing the sidewalks, removing and resetting curbing, and then installing new sidewalks consistent with plans reviewed as part of the Community Process. 

Work in April and May will mostly be focused between Somerville line and Sixth Street. The remainder of the sidewalk work is expected to continue through the summer.

What to Expect During Construction:

• General work hours will be 7am – 4pm, Monday-Friday.
• Please check posted No Parking signs.
• Please follow pedestrian detour signs.
• Access to properties will be maintained, when possible.
• Access will be maintained for emergency vehicles and City services.

Gore Street and Rufo Road Reconstruction Project- Base Paving Scheduled For Monday November 22nd

The City’s contractor, Newport Construction, will be placing a base layer of asphalt on Gore Street, from 5th Street through 2nd Street, beginning on Monday, November 22nd. To ensure that the roadway conditions will be favorable for the winter season, crews will fine grade the roadway on Monday, November 22nd and place a base layer of pavement on Tuesday, November 23rd.

Work is expected to take approximately two days to complete, weather permitting. If conditions are wet on the day of scheduled paving, work will be delayed. Please visit the project page for any updates regarding rescheduling www.cambridgema.gov/GoreStreet.

Please note that base paving establishes the road slightly lower than finished paving, making the curbs higher for parked cars. Please use caution when opening car doors so as not to damage them on the curbs.

As a reminder, work will continue into the winter to include some spot utility work and some preliminary curb setting with the remainder of the curb and sidewalk work to commence in the Spring of 2022.

What to Expect During Construction:

• General work hours 7am-4pm, Monday through Friday. This work may take more than normal working hours to complete.
• Please check posted No Parking signs.
• Access will be maintained for abutters whenever possible. Caution should be used. After work hours, roadways will reopen for all in their normal travel directions.
• Access will be maintained for City services and emergency vehicles.
• Final roadway paving will occur at the end of the Gore Street and Rufo Road Reconstruction Project and will be announced via an additional notice.

For Information and Assistance During Construction:

Questions regarding this project? Contact Kristen Kelleher, Project Administrator, Community Relations, at 617-349-4825 / kkelleher@cambridgema.gov or Kara Falise, Project Manager, at 617-349-4827/ kfalise@cambridgema.gov.  

Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding during this construction.

Update: Due to recent weather conditions roadway reconstruction will now begin the week of November 8th

Due to recent weather conditions, the City’s Contractor, Newport Construction., will now begin to reconstruct the roadway on Gore St. (between Fifth St. and Monsignor O’Brien Highway) during the week of November 8th. This work is anticipated to last for approximately two weeks, weather permitting.

Gore Street and Rufo Road Reconstruction Project - Roadway Reconstruction to Begin the Week of Oct 25

In association with the Gore Street Reconstruction Project, the City’s Contractor, Newport Construction., will begin to reconstruct the roadway on Gore St. (between Fifth St. and Monsignor O’Brien Highway) during the week of October 25th. This work is anticipated to last for approximately two weeks, weather permitting.

To ensure that the roadway conditions will be favorable for many years to come, crews will engage in full-depth reconstruction. At the end of each day, the contractor will clean the work site to allow for motorists to utilize the roadway. We kindly ask that motorists drive through the construction zone slowly outside of general working hours.

Work will begin on Gore St. at Fifth St and travel toward Monsignor O’Brien Highway. The contractor plans to complete full-depth excavation, then perform base paving in that area. Final roadway paving will occur at the end of the Gore Street project and will be announced via an additional notice in the coming months.

Detours will be in place during work hours. Please look for Detour signs, Road Closed signs, and No Parking signs as they will be changing frequently during the work.

What to Expect During Construction:
•General work hours 7am-4pm, Monday through Friday.
•Please check posted No Parking signs.
•During this work, the roadway will be lower, making the curbs higher for parked cars. Please use caution when opening car doors as to not damage them on the curbs.
•Access will be maintained for abutters whenever possible. During work hours, abutters will be allowed to travel the wrong way down one way streets in order to access their property. Caution should be used. After work hours, roadways will reopen for all in their normal travel directions.
•Access will be maintained for City services and emergency vehicles.

For Information and Assistance During Construction:
Questions regarding this project? Contact Kristen Kelleher, Project Administrator, Community Relations, at 617-349-4825/ kkelleher@cambridgema.gov or Kara Falise, Senior Engineer, at 617-349-4827. For more information about the project and to sign up for the project email list. If you have any special need or disability, please contact us to arrange for special accommodations that may be necessary.

Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding during this construction.

Construction Update, September 2021 - Water Main Replacement 

Water main replacement continues on Gore St. from Sciarappa to Third St. through the month of September. Towards the end of the month, work will begin at Third St. Individuals who will have water service impacts will be notified by separate notice. 

Gore Street and Rufo Road Reconstruction Project - Remaining section of sewer lining scheduled for 8/16

Granite Inliner, LLC is under contract with the City of Cambridge to perform sanitary sewer “cured-in-place” rehabilitation of the existing mainline sewers. This is an entirely “trenchless” process which will minimize root and water infiltration problems and provides a more structurally sound pipe without the need for excavation. A liner will be inserted into the existing sewer pipe through manholes located in the street outside your home. The liner will then be “cured-in-place” to form a pipe within a pipe.

On Monday August 16th, crews will be rehabilitating the remaining section of sewer. This location was inaccessible when crews first mobilized. Work is expected to take approximately two days to complete, weather permitting. If conditions are wet on the day of scheduled work, work will be delayed until the next dry day.

Service disruptions will be limited to residents 101-103 Gore Street. These residents will be notified in person and advised to follow several instructions. It is critical that during this eight-hour period you minimize your water use. We ask that you eliminate such activities as laundry, dishwashing, and showers during the specified construction. You may flush your toilet when necessary. Any sump pumps connected to the sewer system must be disconnected and or discharged elsewhere to avoid damage to our liner, or backups in your basement. Failure to follow these instructions may cause a sewer backup in your home.

The product does create an odor (glue or fiberglass odor) that can get into your home for several different reasons, for example, clogged or improper plumbing vent, dry sink traps or in some older homes floor drains that are hooked directly to your sewer lateral. To help prevent the odor, we suggest pouring 1 gallon of water into every floor drain, laundry tub, bath and shower, sink drains. A wet towel over shower, floor drains, etc. can also be an effective barrier to prevent odors. If you detect an odor, please ventilate your home by opening a window and contact the phone numbers below. The odor is not harmful and will dissipate quickly.

Impacted residents will be notified again in person before work begins on the pipe serving your home.

Please look for Detour signs, Road Closed signs, and No Parking signs as they will be changing frequently during the work.

What to Expect During Construction:

• Work hours will be 7 AM to 4 PM
• “No Parking” signs will be posted; please be sure to check dates/times.
• Vehicle access in and out of properties will be maintained but may be restricted for short periods. If you need access and your driveway is blocked, please speak to a crew member on site and they will make accommodations for you.
• Emergency vehicles and City service vehicles will have access at all times.

Information & Assistance:
Questions regarding this project? Contact Kristen Kelleher, Project Administrator - Community Relations, at 617-349-4825/ kkelleher@cambridgema.gov or Kara Falise, Project Manager, at 617-349-4827/ kfalise@cambridgema.gov . If you have any special need or disability, please contact us to arrange for special accommodations that may be necessary. For more info about the project visit: www.cambridgema.gov/GoreStreet .

Gore Street and Rufo Road Reconstruction Project - Water Work Beginning 8/16

As part of the Gore St. and Rufo Rd. Reconstruction Project, the City’s contractor, Newport Construction, will be mobilizing to begin the next phase of water work.

Beginning the week of August 16th, Newport will be replacing the water main from Fifth Street to Second Street. Once the new water main is installed, Newport will begin service connections. This work is expected to last 6 to 8 weeks, weather permitting.

During this work it may be necessary to temporarily disconnect water services for a few daytime hours in order to facilitate upgrades to the water main. Any scheduled impacts to water service for direct abutters in this area will be communicated via separate notice.

There will be daily road closures during work hours as the work progresses block by block. At the end of each day, the contractor will clean the work site to allow for motorists to utilize the roadway.

We will do our best to minimize parking impacts, however there will be some. While the City does not normally accommodate for lost parking during road reconstruction projects, given the extended duration and scope of this particular project, and the limited options for neighborhood parking, the City will be extending the monthly parking program at the First Street Garage that was established during the utility phase of this project.

The City will waive the normal $50 monthly parking pass fee for certain residents during the time of construction. You must be pre-approved to sign up for the pass. If you are interested, please email Kate Riley, kriley@cambridgema.gov with your name and address. Once resident parking status is confirmed, we'll send back an application and then the monthly parking pass will be issued.

Please look for Detour signs, Road Closed signs, and No Parking signs as they will be changing frequently during the work.

What to Expect During Construction:
•Work hours will be 7 AM to 4 PM, Monday-Friday.
•“No Parking” signs will be posted; please be sure to check dates/times.
•Vehicle access in and out of properties will be maintained but may be restricted for short periods. If you need access and your driveway is blocked, please speak to a crew member on site and they will make accommodations for you.
•Emergency vehicles and City service vehicles will have access at all times.

Information & Assistance:
Questions regarding this project? Contact Kristen Kelleher, Project Administrator - Community Relations, at 617-349-4825/ kkelleher@cambridgema.gov or Kara Falise, Project Manager, at 617-349-4827/ kfalise@cambridgema.gov . If you have any special need or disability, please contact us to arrange for special accommodations that may be necessary. For more info about the project visit: www.cambridgema.gov/GoreStreet .

Gore Street and Rufo Road Reconstruction Project - Base paving scheduled for Wednesday 7/28

The City’s contractor, Newport Construction, will be placing a base layer of asphalt on Gore Street, from Fifth Street to the Somerville Line, on Wednesday, July 28th. This work may take more than the normal working hours to complete.

Work is expected to take approximately a day and a half to complete, weather permitting. If conditions are wet on the day of scheduled paving, work will be delayed until the next day. Please visit the project page for any updates regarding rescheduling www.cambridgema.gov/GoreStreet.

The roadway will also be lower, making the curbs higher for parked cars. Please use caution when opening car doors so as not to damage them on the curbs.

As a reminder, upcoming work includes resetting curb and installing new sidewalks. The contractor will be removing the sidewalks, removing and resetting curbing, and then installing new sidewalks This phase of work will begin late Fall 2021.

What to Expect During Construction:
•General work hours 7am-4pm, Monday through Friday. This work may take more than normal working hours to complete.
•Please check posted No Parking signs.
•Access will be maintained for abutters whenever possible. Caution should be used. After work hours, roadways will reopen for all in their normal travel directions.
•Access will be maintained for City services and emergency vehicles.

Final roadway paving will occur at the end of the Gore Street and Rufo Road Reconstruction Project and will be announced via an additional notice.

For Information and Assistance During Construction:
Questions regarding this project? Contact Kristen Kelleher, Project Administrator, Community Relations, at 617-349-4825 / kkelleher@cambridgema.gov or Kara Falise, Project Manager, at 617-349-4827/ kfalise@cambridgema.gov. For more information about the project and to sign up for the project email list, visit www.cambridgema.gov/GoreStreet. If you have any special need or disability, please contact us to arrange for special accommodations that may be necessary.

Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding during this construction.

Gore Street and Rufo Road Reconstruction Project - Saturday Road Work on 7/31 and 8/7

In association with the Gore Street and Rufo Road Reconstruction Project, the City’s Contractor, Newport Construction., will be excavating and grading Rufo Road on Saturday July 31st. This work is anticipated to last for one day, weather permitting. A primary layer of asphalt will be placed the following Saturday, August 7th, weather permitting.

This work is taking place on the weekend in an effort to keep the Cambridge Health Alliance facility operational during the week.

At the end of each day, the contractor will clean the work site to allow for motorists to utilize the roadway. We kindly ask that motorists drive through the construction zone slowly outside of general working hours.

Detours will be in place during work hours. Please look for Detour signs, Road Closed signs, and No Parking signs as they will be changing frequently during the work.

What to Expect During Construction:
•General work hours 7am-4pm.
•Please check posted No Parking signs.
•During this work, the roadway will be lower, making the curbs higher for parked cars. Please use caution when opening car doors as to not damage them on the curbs.
•Access will be maintained for abutters whenever possible.
•Access will be maintained for City services and emergency vehicles.

Final roadway paving will occur at the end of the Gore Street and Rufo Road project and will be announced via an additional notice in the coming months.

For Information and Assistance During Construction:
Questions regarding this project? Contact Kristen Kelleher, Project Administrator, Community Relations, at 617-349-4825/ kkelleher@cambridgema.gov. For more information about the project and to sign up for the project email list, visit www.CambridgeMA.gov/Gorestreet. If you have any special need or disability, please contact us to arrange for special accommodations that may be necessary.

Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding during this construction.

Full-Depth Roadway Reconstruction Week of 7/12

In association with the Gore Street Reconstruction Project, the City’s Contractor, Newport Construction, will begin to reconstruct the roadway on Gore Street between the Somerville line and 5th St. beginning the week of July 12, 2021. This work is anticipated to last for three weeks, weather permitting.

To ensure that the roadway conditions will be favorable for many years to come, crews will engage in full-depth reconstruction. At the end of each day, the contractor will clean the work site to allow for motorists to utilize the roadway. We kindly ask that motorists drive through the construction zone slowly.

Work will begin at the railroad tracks and move towards 5th St. The contractor plans to complete 1-2 blocks of full-depth excavation, then perform base paving in that area before moving on to the next 1-2 block section.

Detours will be in place during work hours. Please look for Detour signs, Road Closed signs, and No Parking signs as they will be changing frequently during the work.

What to Expect During Construction:

• General work hours 7am-4pm, Monday through Friday.
• Please check posted No Parking signs.
• During this work, the roadway will be lower, making the curbs higher for parked cars. Please use caution when opening car doors as to not damage them on the curbs.
• Access will be maintained for abutters whenever possible. During work hours, abutters will be allowed to travel the wrong way down one-way streets in order to access their property. Caution should be used. After work hours, roadways will reopen for all in their normal travel directions.
• Access will be maintained for City services and emergency vehicles.

Final roadway paving will occur at the end of the Gore Street project and will be announced via an additional notice in the coming months.

Information and assistance:

Questions regarding this project? Contact Kristen Kelleher, Community Relations Project Administrator, at 617-349-4825/kkelleher@cambridgema.gov.

June 2021

Week of June 1: Water work in the area of Fifth and Gore

Week of June 7: Water work between Fifth and Seventh, Sewer lining begins.

Week of June 14: Water work between Fifth and Seventh, Sewer lining continues. 

Week of June 21: Excavation begins on Gore between Lambert and Fifth.

Gore Street and Rufo Road Reconstruction Project - Sewer Lining Beginning June 6

The City's contractor, Granite Inliner, will be performing sewer lining beginning June 6th and lasting approximately two weeks. This method, called Cured-in-Place Pipelining, will provide a new, joint-less sewer pipe connection that minimizes root and water infiltration problems, improves flow, and provides for a more structurally sound pipe without the need for excavation.

Impacted residents will receive notification 7 days in advance directly from Granite Inliner about when work will occur in their area. View the distributed notice here.

You will be notified again 48 hours in advance before work begins on the pipe serving your home. During the specified time, residents are asked to limit the use of water going down the drain. Once service is restored, residents will be promptly notified.

No Parking signs will be posted 48-hours in advance. Please take note.

For general information regarding this work, please contact Granite Inliner at 800-655-1171. In the event of a sewer emergency, Granite Inliner Superintendent Andrew Mathison may be reached 24 hours a day 7 days a week at 617-418-9654.

Gore Street and Rufo Road Reconstruction Project - Water Service Material Verification and Lead Line Upgrade Notice

As part of the Gore Street Reconstruction Project, Newport Construction under direction from the Cambridge Water Department (CWD), has begun the Gore Street Water Main Replacement.

The contractor will be replacing the water main along Gore St. from Second St. to Seventh St. During this project all water service laterals will be disconnected from the old water main and reconnected to the new water main. At that time any lead-lined or non-copper service lateral piping will be upgraded to copper from the new water main to the meter inside the house. The Water Department will contact you if or when any work needs to be done that would affect your water service.

This scope of work only affects those properties on Gore Street. Paper notices were distributed from the Water Department on Tuesday, May 25. If you have received the paper notice, your water service lateral is within this scope of work. You can view the notice here.

Gore Street and Rufo Road Reconstruction Project - Phase one of water work to begin week of May 3rd

As part of the Gore St. and Rufo Rd. Reconstruction Project, the City’s contractor, Newport Construction, will be mobilizing to begin phase one of water work.

Beginning the week of May 3rd, Newport will be replacing the water main from Seventh Street to Fifth Street. Once the new water main is installed, Newport will begin service connections. This work is expected to last 4 to 6 weeks, weather permitting.

During this work it may be necessary to temporarily disconnect water services for a few daytime hours in order to facilitate upgrades to the water main. Any scheduled impacts to water service for direct abutters in this area will be communicated via separate notice.

There will be daily road closures during work hours as the work progresses block by block. At the end of each day, the contractor will clean the work site to allow for motorists to utilize the roadway.

Please look for Detour signs, Road Closed signs, and No Parking signs as they will be changing frequently during the work.

What to Expect During Construction: 

• Work hours will be 7 AM to 4 PM, Monday-Friday.
• “No Parking” signs will be posted; please be sure to check dates/times.
• •Vehicle access in and out of properties will be maintained but may be restricted for short periods. If you need access and your driveway is blocked, please speak to a crew member on site and they will make accommodations for you.
• Emergency vehicles and City service vehicles will have access at all times.

Information & Assistance:
Questions regarding this project? Contact Kristen Kelleher, Project Administrator, at 617-349-4825/ kkelleher@cambridgema.gov or Kara Falise, Project Manager, at 617-349-4827/ kfalise@cambridgema.gov . If you have any special need or disability, please contact us to arrange for special accommodations that may be necessary. For more info about the project visit: www.cambridgema.gov/GoreStreet .

April 2021

Week of April 5:Drainage work.

Week of April 12:Drainage work.

Week of April 19: Drainage work

Week of April 26: Drainage work

March 2021

Week of March 15: Drainage structures continue to be delivered.

Week of March 22: Drainage work begins, weather permitting.

Week of March 29: Drainage work continues. 

February 2021

Week of February 8: Crews will be on-site drilling test pits to assess subsurface conditions. They will also be inspecting sewer lines via TV camera.

Week of February 15: Test pit work continues. Crews will also be saw cutting at the curb in preparation for drainage installation. Residents may also see drainage structures being delivered.

Week of February 22: Drainage work begins, weather permitting.

Gore Street and Rufo Road Reconstruction Project - Cost-waiver parking program 

The City’s contractor, Newport Construction, has begun work on the Gore Street Reconstruction Project next. We understand that there may be times when this construction may limit on-street parking in the area.

While the City does not normally accommodate for lost parking during road reconstruction projects, given the extended duration and scope of this particular project, and the limited options for neighborhood parking, the City will be extending the monthly parking program at the First Street Garage that was established during the utility phase of this project.

The City will waive the normal $50 monthly parking pass fee for certain residents during the time of construction.

Who is eligible for this program? The cost-waiver program is limited to residents impacted by the Gore Street Construction Project. Residents of Gore St. and immediate abutters with a valid residential parking permit.

How do I apply? You must be pre-approved to sign up for the pass. If you are interested, please email Kate Riley, kriley@cambridgema.gov with your name and address. Once resident parking status is confirmed, we'll send back an application and then the monthly parking pass will be issued.

Thank you for your patience as we begin work on this project. For more information about the Gore Street Reconstruction Project, please visit the project page. Here you can find updates about the project, an overall schedule and information about the community process.

Gore Street and Rufo Road Reconstruction Project - Tree pruning to begin Wednesday January 27th

The City's contractor, Newport Construction, has completed installation of tree protection and will begin tree pruning on Wednesday, January 27th. Work will take place between the hours of 7:00 AM and 4:00 PM. This work is expected to take approximately 3 days to complete.

Over the next two weeks, Newport will be completing test pits and TV and cleaning several sewer and drain lines.

What to Expect During Construction:

• Work hours will be 7 AM to 4 PM, Monday-Friday.
• “No Parking” signs will be posted; please be sure to check dates/times.
• Vehicle access in and out of properties will be maintained but may be restricted for short periods. If you need access and your driveway is blocked, please speak to a crew member on site and they will make accommodations for you.
• Emergency vehicles and vehicles for City services (Trash, etc) will have access at all times. 

Gore Street and Rufo Road Reconstruction Project - Work to begin week of January 11th

Dear Neighbor:

The DPW has awarded the contract for the Gore Street and Rufo Road Reconstruction project to Newport Construction.

On or about Monday, January 11th, Newport will be mobilizing to commence construction. Initial activities will include installation of tree protection and utility work. Work will continue through winter as weather permits and will ramp up in spring with additional crews to support utility installations. The project is anticipated to take two years with the road and sidewalk work anticipated to commence in fall of this year.

As a reminder, the project will include utility work, roadway resurfacing, sidewalk reconstruction including accessible pedestrian crossings and tree plantings along Gore Street (from Somerville to Monsignor O’Brien Highway) and Rufo Road. Project plans remain consistent with the plans developed as part of a community process that concluded in 2019. Plans and presentations from this process can be reviewed on the project webpage: www.cambridgema.gov/GorestRuford .

What to Expect During Construction: 

• Work hours will be 7 AM to 4 PM, Monday-Friday.
• “No Parking” signs will be posted; please be sure to check dates/times.
• Vehicle access in and out of properties will be maintained but may be restricted for short periods. If you need access and your driveway is blocked, please speak to a crew member on site and they will make accommodations for you.
• Emergency vehicles and vehicles for City services (Trash, etc) will have access at all times. 

Additional information on the project, including the contractors full project schedule, will be posted on the project page. As part of COVID-19 protocols, paper flyers for project information will be limited and updates will be posted on-site, on the project page and emailed to those on the project list. To be added to this list, please visit the “Contact” tab of the project page.

Contractors are required to follow the safety guidelines established by the State and submit their COVID-19 Control Plans to the City. This plan will require attention to:

• Social Distancing -- remain six feet apart to the greatest extent possible and wear face coverings
• Hygiene Protocols – provide hand washing stations
• Staffing and Operations – provide training for staff and screen employees for COVID-19 like symptoms
• Cleaning and Disinfecting -- Disinfect all common surfaces

Information & Assistance:
Questions regarding this project? Contact Kate Riley, Community Relations Manager, at 617.349.4870/ kriley@cambridgema.gov or Kara Falise, Senior Engineer, at 617-349-4827 / kfalise@cambridgema.gov. If you have any special need or disability, please contact us to arrange for special accommodations that may be necessary.

January 2021: The project schedule can be found in the "Documents" tab.

September 2020: The project is out to bid with all bids due by October 1st.

July 2017: The project team is finalizing plans to prepare for this project to go out to bid late summer 2020. 

The following email was sent on May 28, 2020

Dear Neighbor,

On March 18^th, Cambridge issued a Temporary Emergency Construction Moratorium to limit construction in the City to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.   Last week, the City issued an Amended Temporary Emergency Construction Order to allow construction to restart in a phased approach in the coming weeks.   

What does this mean for construction in my neighborhood?

Beginning this week, you may start to see some construction activity related to site safety preparations, including installation of hand wash stations and other site modifications related to COVID-19 safety precautions. Beginning June 1^st, you may start to see increased activity on your street related to the re-starting of construction. We will be in touch via additional notices with a schedule and information specific to the project on your street.

Residents should be aware that No Parking signs will start to appear in relation to construction activity. Contractors will make every effort to provide 48-hours’ notice, but please check the street frequently.

Help Us Spread the Word!

We will not be distributing paper notices to each location at this time. Please encourage your neighbors to sign up to receive email notifications about projects around the City at cambridgema.gov/subscribe.

COVID-19 Control Plan for Construction:

In addition to the stringent safety guidelines required by the State, all contractors will need to submit to the Inspectional Services Department or Department of Public Works, as appropriate, a COVID-19 Control Plan for Cambridge on permitted projects. This plan will require:

•  A cleaning and decontamination checklist; The number of workers expected on the job site; and
•  No non-essential personnel may be present at the worksite.
•  Additionally, contractors will be encouraged, and in some cases required, to conduct a site-specific risk analysis and enhanced COVID-19 safety plan for more complex projects.

As previously announced on May 18, the City of Cambridge will expand currently allowed construction activity in the City in four phases:

• Phase 1, beginning May 25, will add site safety prep work for projects previously permitted by Inspectional Services (ISD) and Public Works (DPW). Forthcoming amendments to the City’s Temporary Emergency Construction Order issued on March 18 will modify the definition of essential construction to include work associated with COVID-19 restaurant modification needed to allow them to safely reopen;
• Phase 2, beginning on June 1, will add horizontal construction, city building projects, 100% affordable housing developments, larger buildings (over 25,000 square feet) previously permitted by ISD or DPW;
• Phase 3, tentatively beginning on June 15, will add all remaining existing construction previously permitted by ISD and DPW; and
• Phase 4, tentatively beginning on June 29, will add new permits. Permits can be submitted, and pre-reviews will occur at any time, but permits will not be formally accepted or issued until this date.

For additional details on the Amended Temporary Emergency Construction Order, please click here. 

Eversource Gas and Divco West, the developer of Cambridge Crossing (formerly known as NorthPoint), are currently upgrading utilities on Gore St between Monsignor O’Brien Highway and Warren St.

Following this construction, the City will reconstruct the water main, replace any lead services, and reconstruct the roadway and sidewalks on Gore St. This is an opportunity to improve Gore St for residents, as well as for people walking and biking along the street. We gathered ideas and feedback during the first meeting on Tuesday, June 19th and incorporated them into an initial plan for the street.

Please join City staff on Thursday, November 1st from 6:30PM-8PM in the Community Room of the Millers River Apartments to review this plan and provide feedback and discussion about the street and sidewalk reconstruction of Gore St. and Rufo Rd.

For Information or Assistance:

If you have any questions regarding the current construction, please contact Divco West at mitigation@csl-consulting.com or by phone at 617-866-8971. For more information, please visit the project website www.npconstruction.info .

If you have any questions regarding the redesign of Gore Street, please contact Kate Riley, Community Relations, at 617.349.4870 or kriley@cambridgema.gov. For information and plans from previous meetings or to join the email distribution list for this project visit http://bit.ly/GoreStRufoRd.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and patience.