Construction in the Square

[Clarence C]

Does anyone know when the square's reconstruction is slated to begin? The long winter is over so where are the construction crews? Union Square looks like a forgotten mess with all the Jersey barriers. Us locals may be used to it but I where visiting from somewhere else it does not look like a place I would want to stop and do some shopping or have a meal.

[Ryan]

Clarence,

You may have already found this out, but they've started updating the Somerville Ave. Construction schedule on the city's website again. They seem to be working their way from Porter to Union and we'll probably be the last one's finished. Somewhat on that topic, looks like Alderman Taylor was getting Bow St. on the list of road resurfacing for 2009/2010 at the last Board meeting. I'm happy to hear this since Bow St. got the short end of the stick with this Somerville Ave reconstruction. I affectionally refer to Bow St. as Somerville Ave because it really is the same road with what amounts to a large median between east and westbound. I never understood why only half this portion of road was included in the reconstruction. Hopefully it will atleast be cleaned up soon though. And when they do that, I'm going to suggest a larger sign indicating the direction of Somerville ave or Summer St. Lost of near accidents occur with confused drivers at this fork.

As a follow up to Mimi or anyone else who might know. Will the intersection in Union, particularly that of Bow St. and Somerville Ave be returned to normal as part of the Som Ave. work or will it remain as is until the Union Square redo is done? I'd really like to see it cleaned up, but it also seems redundant to redo it if there is a possiblity that it will be altered when the square is eventually redesigned. I don't know the details about the Union Square plans so I didn't know how long it will be until that happens.