January 2025:
Week of December 30 (No work December 30, 31, January 1): Install trench drain, install brick on sidewalk in front of businesses.
December 2024:
Week of December 9: Sidewalk work, adjust castings, sidewalk binder (between Dunster St. and JFK St, in front of the businesses). Install detectable warning panels at Dunster Street.
Week of December 16: JFK sidewalk work including sawcutting, removal and installation of new curb, rebuild sidewalk, installation of wheelchair ramps.
There will be no work from December 23 through January 1 due to the Holidays. Operations will resume on Thursday, January 2.
Construction Update:
The start date of the next Phase was postponed due to the recent Red Line closure. The next Phase will now begin on Monday, December 2.
Construction Notice: Harvard Square Plaza Reconstruction Next Phase of Work to begin week of November 18
The City’s contractor, Newport Construction, will wrap up the first phase of construction at Mass Ave and Dunster Street this week, weather permitting. All work will be contained within work site fencing.
Dunster Street is anticipated to reopen to vehicular traffic on Tuesday, November 19.
The next phase of the project is expected to begin on Wednesday, November 20th with an anticipated duration of 11 weeks. This phase will include:
- Installation of a trench drain along the south side of the MBTA headhouse for improved drainage.
- Accessible sidewalk restoration (between Dunster St. and JFK St, in front of the businesses).
- Building ADA compliant accessible pedestrian ramps for access.
What to Expect During Construction:
- General work hours are 7 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday. There will be intermittent off-hours
work as needed. The contractor has obtained a noise variance from the License Commission and
these hours will be updated on the project page.
- Please check posted No Parking signs.
- Access to businesses will be maintained during construction including those utilizing food delivery
services such as Uber Eats.
- "Business Open During Construction" signage will be installed to support local merchants.
- A portion of JFK Street will be closed during this phase of work. Detours will be in place.
- Please see the map on the back side of this notice.
- Electronic message boards will be placed prior to work beginning.
All construction-related updates and impacts will be posted on the Harvard Square Plaza project page www.cambridgema.gov/departments/publicworks/cityprojects/2021/harvardsquarekioskandplaza. If you would like to receive email updates, please sign up under the Contact Tab on the project page.
For Information and Assistance During Construction:
Questions regarding this project: Contact Linda Spencer, Project Administrator-Community Relations at 617-349-9734/ lspencer@cambridgema.gov or Melissa Miguel, Supervising Engineer at 617-349-9351/ mmiguel@cambridgema.gov. If you have any special needs or disabilities, please contact us to arrange for special accommodation that may be necessary.
In case of a construction emergency, please call the Cambridge Public Works Department 24-hour hotline at 617-349-4800.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to improve Harvard Square Plaza. To view the full flyer click here!
November 2024:
Week of November 4: Install granite curb, temporary paving (within fenced in construction area)
Week of November 11 (No work on Monday, November 11, Veterans Day): Base paving, markings (withing fenced in construction area), anticipated reopening of Dunster Street
October 2024:
Week of October 7: Removal of existing curb, install drainage
Week of October 14 (No work on Monday, October 14, Indigenous Peoples' Day): Water tap
Week of October 21: Install drainage
Week of October 27: Install drainage, full-depth (within fenced in construction area)
September 2024:
Week of September 23: Demolition of Information Booth
Week of September 30: Dunster Street closure, Removal of existing brick sidewalk and granite band
Construction Notice: Harvard Square Plaza Reconstruction Project
The City of Cambridge is pleased to announce that, after extensive coordination, Newport Construction will begin the reconstruction of the Harvard Square Plaza. This project will enhance the functionality and vibrancy of the plaza, benefiting the entire community.
The project is expected to take 24 months to complete and will be carried out in phases. This estimated project duration is provided here with the understanding that unforeseen conditions, and extreme weather events, may extend the project timeline. The individual limits of each phase have been strategically laid out to minimize disruptions and maintain the operations of local businesses, the MBTA, and the many facets of traffic in the square.
The kickoff to the construction will begin the week of September 23 with the demolition of the Information Booth, followed by the set up for the temporary Dunster Street Closure on September 27th. Crews will begin work on Dunster Street Monday, September 30. This phase of the overall project is expected to take 6-8 weeks and will include:
- Connecting Plaza drainage lateral to the existing drainage structure in the crosswalk on Dunster Street.
- Reconstruct EXISTING crosswalk: excavate and remove existing crosswalk, reset curbing, install paver base and pavers.
- Pave the approach ramps to the raised crosswalk.
What to Expect During Construction:
- General work hours 7 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- Please check posted No Parking signs.
- Removal of posted No Parking signs can add extensive time to the contract.
- Access to all properties will be maintained throughout the project.
- Businesses, including delivery services like Uber Eats, will have uninterrupted access.
- Traffic management plans will be in place to ensure minimal disruption to traffic flow.
- "Business Open During Construction" signage will be installed to support local merchants.
- DETOURS will be in place. Please see the DETOUR route below.
All construction-related updates and impacts will be posted here: Harvard Square Plaza Construction Updates. If you would like to receive email updates, please sign up under the Contact Tab on the Project Page.
For more information about the design and community planning process for the plaza, visit: Harvard Square Public Space.
For Information and Assistance During Construction:
Questions regarding this project: Contact Linda Spencer, Project Administrator-Community Relations at 617-349-9734/ lspencer@cambridgema.gov or Melissa Miguel, Supervising Engineer at 617-349-9351/ mmiguel@cambridgema.gov. If you have any special needs or disabilities, please contact us to arrange for special accommodation that may be necessary. Interested parties are encouraged to direct all questions to these contacts. The crews on site are typically there for specific tasks and are only able to answer questions for the specific task they are on-site to perform.
Please join the City and the Contractor Team to ask questions related to the Harvard Square Plaza Reconstruction Project on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 9-10 a.m. at 1350 Mass Ave., 2nd floor of the Welcome Pavilion (upstairs from Pavement Coffee). Accessible via elevators or stairs.
Harvard Square Plaza Reconstruction Project “Coffee Talk” Session
Residents and business owners and their employees are invited to stop by a Coffee Talk to meet with City staff and contractors to ask questions related to the Harvard Square Plaza Reconstruction Project.
Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 9:00 a.m - 10:00 a.m 1350 Mass Ave, 2nd floor of the Welcome Pavilion (upstairs from Pavement Coffee) Accessible via elevators or stairs. Please view full flyer here.
October 2023
Plantings, punch list items.
June 2023
Interior work continues.
May 2023
Copper installation, and limestone cleaning.
April 2023
Interior Work continues.
November 2022
Masonry work, utility work, and framing.
October 2022
Begin copper installation and interior plumbing and painting work.
September 2022
Beginning the next phase of roof work and continuing masonry work on the headhouse.
August 2022
Continuing electrical work and waterproofing for the foundation.
July 2022
Crews are excavating for waterproofing work and continuing electrical work.
June 2022
Crews are prepping to begin removing the existing roof and installing new roof.
May 2022
The City's contractor, Wes Construction, will be remobilizing the week of May 3. Crews will be performing masonry work, painting, and placement of structural steel.
March 2022
Wes Construction anticipates remobilizing on site in April and completing the Kiosk project in November 2022.
The plaza project bid is opening on 3/10/2022 at 2PM at City Hall, Purchasing Department. It is expected that a contractor will be on board in Spring 2022 and work beginning a few weeks later.
The Community Development Department is working of an RFP for an operator for the Kiosk and expecting to have one onboard by early summer 2022. If you have questions about Kiosk operations, you can contact Melissa Peters, mpeters@cambridgema.gov.
June 2021
Over the next several weeks, the City's contractor, WES construction, will be performing demolition activities at the site.
The City's contractor, WES Construction, will be mobilizing in the area of the Kiosk beginning Wednesday, May 19th.
May 2021
April 2021
The Out of Town News Kiosk Renovation contract has been awarded to WES Construction Corp. A detailed construction schedule will be available soon.