The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has partnered with the City of Somerville, MA on a planning study to help determine the future of the Route 28 corridor. This study, called “Grounding McGrath” responds to a number of issues impacting the corridor:

-  The aging Route 28 McCarthy Overpass will require significant repairs in the future

-  Extension of the MBTA Green Line, along with other substantial planning efforts, will likely change the area

-  Neighborhoods adjacent to the corridor will continue to rely on the McGrath Highway for multimodal access to key destinations

MassDOT’s project webpage states that the Grounding McGrath planning study “offers MassDOT and the general public the opportunity to consider the future use and potential removal of elevated portions of the roadway within the City of Somerville and to enhance access for all modes of travel.” The study seeks to:

- Balance the multimodal transportation needs

- Facilitate connections throughout the corridor

- Encourage development that will benefit the neighborhood and the region

In September, MassDOT hosted a public information meeting to review the study’s goals and objectives, present existing conditions, review upcoming maintenance work for the McCarthy overpass, and gather feedback from the community. In December, MassDOT met with the project Working Group to discuss no-build transportation forecasts and development alternatives.

If you’d like to learn more about what is going on with the McGrath Highway project, visit MassDOT’s project webpage and stay tuned for updates on this blog – we’ll be keeping an eye out for future developments with this project!