Construction Work May Impact Traffic on Comm Ave in Coming Weeks
Work affecting both West and East Campus begins during intersession
TAKEAWAYS:
- Phase two of Comm Ave Improvement Project closes down for winter
- Silber Way reduced to one lane for much of January due to construction projects
- Limited access to alley connecting Silber Way and Granby Street
Three construction projects may cause minor traffic and pedestrian issues around the Charles River Campus beginning during the holiday break, but the Boston University Police Department will have officers on scene to minimize disruption and ensure safe travel.
On West Campus, Newport Construction will be buttoning up phase two of the Commonwealth Avenue Improvement Project for the winter, closing off the unfinished bike lanes from the BU Bridge to Packard’s Corner and storing away construction materials and equipment, says Michael Donovan, BU vice president for campus planning and operations.
The $20.4 million state project will resume in the spring, with a completion date set for June, but the winter cleanup and shutdown is necessary for pedestrian, cyclist, and vehicular safety and snow removal operations during winter months, Donovan says.
On East Campus, Silber Way will be reduced to one lane for approximately two and a half weeks beginning January 7 or 9, for cabling work by Crown Castle International Corp., as part of the city of Boston’s ongoing wireless communications project. The exact traffic pattern is still being determined, but there will be no parking on Silber Way during the work. Boston Police will be on site, according to the city of Boston.
That project is one of two that will limit access to the alley connecting Silber Way and Granby Street, behind Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences and the Bay State Road brownstones. The other is preparatory work being conducted on the University’s new Data Sciences Center, which will eventually occupy what is now a BU parking lot at the corner of Granby Street and Comm Ave.
Beginning December 26, crews will drill three 1,500-feet geothermal test wells. Among its sustainability and climate action goals, the University hopes to use geothermal systems technology to heat and cool the Data Sciences Center. If these test wells are successful, a total of up to 30 will be drilled to serve the planned building. The test work will likely impinge on the alley and may reduce the number of parking spaces available in the Granby parking lot.
People who would normally use the alley for parking or pedestrian access to buildings on Comm Ave and Bay State Road will find there is limited or no access at times. Police details assigned to the Silber Way project will ensure that emergency vehicles and other essential services can access the alley as needed, says Robert Molloy, BUPD deputy chief.
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