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The Kensington Connector Revitalization Project will be the first step in a long-anticipated set of improvements to the 148-foot pedestrian walkway, located under Interstate 93 in Somerville, that connects the neighborhoods of East Somerville (near the Stop and Shop supermarket) and Winter Hill to Assembly Square.
Goals for this project include:
The Kensington Connector Revitalization Project will be the first step in a long-anticipated set of improvements to the 148-foot pedestrian walkway, located under Interstate 93 in Somerville, that connects the neighborhoods of East Somerville (near the Stop and Shop supermarket) and Winter Hill to Assembly Square.
Goals for this project include:
The Kensington Connector, an asphalt underpass below the main artery of Interstate 93, also known as Boston’s Northern Expressway, and abutted by two I-93 exit ramps, sits at the intersection of the Assembly Square, East Somerville, and Winter Hill neighborhoods, which have recently undergone or will be undergoing revitalization and infrastructure improvements as a result of millions of dollars invested by the City of Somerville and Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Both East Somerville and Winter Hill are environmental justice neighborhoods that have been cut off from new amenities at Assembly, including a new MBTA light rail station, retail stores and restaurants, and a movie theater, and access to the Mystic River waterfront parks, by the elevated I-93 highway infrastructure.
Beautifying the Connector will make it easier and more appealing to travel via foot or bicycle from one side to the other, in an area highly congested due to regional and local vehicular traffic. Case in point: On an average day, 32,800 vehicles pass the Connector on Mystic Avenue and another 180,000 drive over it on I-93. Another point: In 2019, there were 4 pedestrian and 3 cyclist crashes involving motor vehicles, including one fatality, in the 1/4-mile radius of the Connector. In addition, there are two bus stops located between the Connector’s main path and the path under the exit ramp, but crossing the street is dangerous and challenging for pedestrians, who have a short window of time to do so.
The City hears the outcries for this space to be transformed to match improvements and investments in the redeveloped Assembly Square shopping area; the revamped East Somerville business district, and the revitalization coming to Winter Hill, currently in design. Please see the information on this SomerVoice page and contribute to the virtual community process.
MAYOR JOSEPH A. CURTATONE, STATE SENATOR PAT JEHLEN, STATE REPRESENTATIVE MIKE CONNOLLY, CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT & WARD 1 COUNCILOR MATT MCLAUGHLIN, AND CITY STAFF INVITE YOU TO A DIGITAL COMMUNITY MEETING TO DISCUSS THE KENSINGTON CONNECTOR.
We invite you to participate in the discussion on how to improve the Kensington Connector, the pedestrian crossing under I-93 at Mystic Avenue behind the Stop and Shop and Public Storage buildings. Please register to participate in the online meeting by going to
GoToWebinar Registration:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6778757874616112909
If you are unable to attend, please watch the preview community meeting on this SomerVoice page (to the right) and participate in the online survey and ideas tab located below this post.
Please contact Cortney Kirk with any questions, comments or concerns at ckirk@somervillema.gov.
This consultation is Open for Community Feedback.
Digital Community Meeting - Thursday, September 3, 5:00-6:30pm.
Please see web registration details in the News Feed Tab to the Left.
Contributions for a quick installation project with be evaluated and implemented. The Project team will report back on key outcomes.
Project to follow rapid project with specific community engagement.
The final outcomes of the Community Process will be reported to MassDOT for a larger, long term, installation project.
Phone | 6176256600 |
ckirk@somervillema.gov |
Phone | 6176256600 |
akleyman@somervillema.gov |