Intersection Improvement Plans Revealed
Intersection improvement would make this intersection, which has long been a source of consternation, safer for anyone using the road.
An intersection on the border of Woburn and Burlington is set to get a makeover in the next couple of years.
The intersection of Route 3/3A with Bedford/South Bedford Street has long been a source of frustration for travelers, with narrow roadways, no protected turns, and very limited safe access for pedestrians and cyclists. It is also considered a high crash location.
Last week, the state's department of transportation, MassDOT, held a public forum to inform the public of plans for intersection improvements to benefit everyone who uses the road. After exploring a few alternatives, including installing a rotary, an improvement plan was proposed which includes widening the street, adding a left turning lane on Cambridge Street/Road, and adding right turning lanes on Bedford & South Bedford Streets. The plan also includes a new traffic signal, buffered bike lanes, and pedestrian amenities.
This public hearing was designed as an opportunity to give feedback to the project's proponents at the early stages, before right-of-way is established for this intersection improvement. The state will need to establish temporary or permanent easements on some of the land adjacent to the intersection in order to widen the roadway and make the necessary improvements. If you're curious about the right-of-way plans, you can see them at Woburn City Hall.
The project is expected to minimally impact the Mary Cummings Park property and have no impact on nearby wetlands.
During construction, the Department of Transportation is committed to maintaining one lane of traffic in both directions throughout peak travel times, though one lane might need to be closed at times during non-peak times. Abutting homes and businesses will have access to their properties, bus and pedestrian access is planned to be maintained, and there are no detours planned.
The current plan is to finalize this design over the next year-and-a-half and begin construction in mid-2026. To learn more about this proposal, you can view the presentation. For project updates, visit the MassDOT website.
