Downtown Reconstruction to Start Spring 2008
After years of planning and securing funding, Main Street in Downtown Reading will be completely reconstructed from Washington Street to Lowell Street/ Salem Street. The work will make downtown Reading more attractive and pleasant, and will improve circulation for drivers and pedestrians. The work includes new road surface, new curbs, sidewalks, signalized pedestrian crosswalks, benches, trash receptacles, decorative street lights, and new street trees.
What are the goals of the project?
The project was designed to serve two purposes; The first to improve the overall pedestrian and vehicular safety by improving traffic signals, simplify traffic circulation and improving street crossing areas, and secondly to maximize and simplify on street parking, and to provide streetscape enhancements to the downtown area
What is the Schedule?
The following is the estimated schedule for reconstruction of the actual roadway. This will be the most disruptive part of the project. The full project is required to be completed by September 2009.
Main Street ESTIMATED Construction Schedule for the reconstruction of the roadway surface:
Phase 1: Ash Street from Haven Street to Green Street, including a small part of upper Haven Street.
Planned start date March 24, 2008 – April 11, 2008
Revised as of March 21, 2008: Start Date: March 31, 2008; End date: April 18, 2008
Phase 2: Main Street East Side, from Washington Street to Haven Street
Planned start date April; 14, 2008 – May 2, 2008
Phase 3: Main Street West Site from Washington Street to Haven Street
Planned start date May 5, 2008 – May 23, 2008
Phase 4: Main Street East Side from Haven Street to Salem Street including Harnden Street
Planned start date May 27, 2008 – June 13, 2008
Phase 5: Main Street West Side from Haven Street to Salem Street including Lowell Street and a
small part of Woburn Street
Planned start date: June 16, 2008 – July 3, 2008
What will change in how traffic circulates downtown when the project is finished?
The two obvious changes will be Lowell Street in front of Town Hall and Ash Street near Haven Street. After the construction, Lowell Street from Rt. 129 (Salem Street) to the existing (to be removed) traffic dummy at Pleasant Street will be one-way south-bound, with angled parking on either side. The traffic dummy will be removed and replaced with a full sidewalk mounted signal system including pedestrian walk-lights.
Ash Street from Green Street to Main Street will become two way, with a traffic signal at Main Street to allow turns north and south onto Main Street. This will make it easier to circle back into downtown.
Will roads have to be closed?
Main Street will remain open to 2-way traffic at all times during construction. One lane of traffic will move in each direction on Main Street.
Ash Street (from Main Street to Gould Street) and Haven Street (from Main Street to the Municipal Lot exit) will be closed during the reconstruction of each individual roadway.
Vehicular access to Main Street from Green Street, Chapin Avenue, Haven Street, Pleasant Street, Union Street, Woburn Street and Lowell Street will be prohibited while reconstruction work is being performed at its intersection with Main Street.
During the roadway reconstruction phase, sidewalks will be open for pedestrian traffic.
After the roadway reconstruction, what else needs to be done and what is the schedule?
The initial 5 phases identified above, while the most disruptive to residents, businesses and vehicular traffic, are only the initial parts of the project.
In addition to this work the existing sidewalk and curbing will be removed and replaced. The new concrete sidewalks will be accented with brick bands and be furnished with new handicap ramps that will lead to new crosswalks with brick inlays and granite curb edging. The project also includes the installation of new traffic signals, ornamental street lighting and accompanying electrical conduits, modifications to the drainage system, decorative benches and bollards, street trees, additional plantings in key landscape areas. Following all the above work the street will then receive the final roadway surface treatment, install new pavement markings and street signage.
A schedule for the remainder of the roadway restoration is not yet defined. This phase will start during phase 3 and 4 of the roadway reconstruction phases.
The schedule for the items identified above will be finalized in the Spring. It is presently planned that work will start on the removal and replacement of the sidewalks along the lower end of Main Street (Washington to Haven Street) during phase 4 and 5 of the roadway surface reconstruction.
What about parking?
The totals number of on-street parking spaces in downtown will not be changing, although locations of some of the spaces will change.
To keep traffic flowing in both directions on Main Street during construction, parking must be temporarily eliminated in the street segment under construction. Each segment will take about 4 weeks to construct, depending on conditions underground.
The Town Manager may suspend or modify parking regulations in certain areas as needed, in order to accommodate downtown business.
Are new sidewalks, benches, trees, and lighting included?
Once the Main Street travel way (curb to curb) is reconstructed, work on sidewalks will be done in the summer/fall of 2008 and in 2009. Business owners will be given as much notice as possible on when the sidewalks will be closed to allow communication with customers. Sidewalks will not be closed for longer than one or two days at a time, per section, and every effort will be made to minimize any negative impact on the abutting property owners.
Brick crosswalks with pedestrian walk signals will replace the “red/yellow” pedestrian signals. Sidewalks will extend further into the right-of-way at crosswalks to allow for shorter, safer distances across the street for pedestrians.
Seventy-five deciduous and evergreen trees will be planted, along with perennials plants. Victorian light posts similar to those behind the Police Station will be installed, as well as benches. Designs will be posted to the website.
How many and what kind of shade trees will be planted to replace those that were removed?
Shade Trees Removed for Main Street Reconstruction
Shade Tree Species |
Est. Diameter at Breast Height (4.5 feet from grade) |
Location |
Address |
|
Sugar Maple |
18” |
Town Hall |
16 Lowell St |
|
Pear |
16” |
Wine Shop |
676 Main St |
|
Pear |
18” |
Eastern Chinese |
672 Main St |
|
Pear |
8” |
CVS |
650 Main St |
|
Linden |
4” |
“ |
“ |
|
Pear |
18” |
Family Dental |
636 Main St |
|
Pear |
20” |
Sense of Wonder |
622 Main St |
|
Pear |
20” |
“ |
“ |
|
Pear |
20” |
Clockfolk |
610 Main St |
|
Red Maple |
12” |
Bank of America |
Haven Street |
|
Red Maple |
8” |
“ |
“ |
|
Red Maple |
10” |
“ |
“ |
|
Linden |
12” |
Sovereign Bank |
Main St |
|
Linden |
24” |
Christopher’s Restaurant |
580 main St |
|
Linden |
24” |
Former Comically Speaking |
580 Main St |
|
Pear |
12” |
American Brake |
550 Main St |
|
Linden |
24” |
“ |
“ |
|
Linden |
20” |
“ |
“ |
|
Norway Maple |
12” |
Emperor’s Choice |
530 Main St |
|
Norway Maple |
12” |
|
494-496 Main St |
|
Norway Maple |
12” |
|
484 Main St |
|
Norway Maple |
14” |
|
“ |
|
Norway Maple |
20” |
128 Tire |
459 Main St |
|
Elm |
24” |
Sunoco |
Main St |
|
Elm |
24” |
“ |
“ |
|
Norway Maple |
14” |
VFW |
Main St |
|
Norway Maple |
20” |
Gen’l Washington Apartments |
625 Main St |
|
Norway Maple |
20” |
“ |
“ |
|
Norway Maple |
20” |
Latham Lamond |
643 Main St |
|
Norway maple |
12” |
Walgreen’s |
Main St |
|
Norway maple |
8” |
Walgreen’s |
Main St |
Approx. 31 Trees removed |
Proposed Trees to be Planted
Shade Tree Species |
Caliper converted to inches |
Location |
Address or block |
Quantity |
Green Ash |
3.15 to 3.5 inches |
Harnden St triangle |
|
2 |
Red Maple |
“ |
Harnden St triangle |
|
2 |
Elm Valley Forge |
“ |
Ash Street, between Green and Gould at retaining wall |
|
2 |
Elm Valley Forge |
“ |
Main Street |
Near King’s Auto |
1 |
Elm Valley Forge |
“ |
Main Street |
Clockfolk |
2 |
Elm Valley Forge |
“ |
Main Street |
Aroma Café |
1 |
Elm Valley Forge |
“ |
Main Street |
Gen’l Washington Apartments |
6 (3 on either side of Main) |
Honeylocust |
“ |
Main Street |
Between Washington St and Greent St |
7 |
Honeylocust |
“ |
Ash St |
Christopher’s |
1 |
Honeylocust |
“ |
Main St |
Both sides near Quiznos |
5 |
Lilac “Ivory Silk” |
“ |
Main St |
Either side of Main, block north of Green St |
6 |
Zelkova |
3.5 to 3.9 inches |
|
580 Main |
4 |
Zelkova |
“ |
Main St |
CVS, Walgreens, Woburn/Lowell Street corner |
10 |
Ginko |
“ |
Haven |
MF Charles Bldg |
4 |
Pear |
2 to 2.36 inches |
Main |
580 Main, both sides |
7 |
Pear |
“ |
Main |
Venetian Moon, Wine Shop, Latham Latham Lamond |
6 |
Dogwood |
3.15 to 3.5 inches |
Lowell St |
Town Hall |
3 |
Oak |
2 to 2.36 inches |
|
Harnden Triangle and Reading Common |
4 |
Sugar Maple |
3.15 to 3.5 inches |
Lowell St |
Town Hall |
1 |
Red Maple or Norway Maple |
“ |
Lowell St |
Town Hall |
2
|
Red Maple or Norway Maple |
“ |
Woburn St |
Town Hall |
1
|
New Trees planned |
|
|
|
77 |
How much will the project cost, and where is the money coming from?
This is a project of the Massachusetts Highway Department. The MHD is funding $5,490,865 which is comprised of state and federal highway. The Town is reimbursing MHD an estimated $650,000 for the more decorative features of the project in the area from Haven Street to Washington Street, and Town Meeting has approved these funds.
Why does this project have to be done now?
The Reading community has recognized the need for downtown improvements for at least a decade. Improving the economic vitality of downtown Reading is dependent upon a convenient, safe, and attractive way to drive, park, walk, shop and conduct business downtown. To maintain our valued downtown businesses, and to attract the mix of new retail shops, restaurants, services, and residences we desire in downtown Reading, Main Street has to be re-constructed. Now that the funds are in place from the state, the project may proceed. If the work were to be postponed, the Town could lose state funding.
Who do I contact for more information?
Community Services Director/Town Planner Carol Kowalski, (781) 942-6612
Updates will be posted on the Town web site at www.ci.reading.ma.us, and articles and information will be available on RCTV, in the Advocate, and in the Chronicle.
Boards showing the overall project and some of the details are on view at Town Hall, in the Reading Public Library, and at the Reading Police Station.
What are the hours of construction?
Construction is Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm.
Occasionally an incident may require the contractor to work longer. For example, to repair a broken utility or to eliminate a safety issue.
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