Road Closures at Key Intersections, Construction Projects Underway Throughout New Bedford

Now that more moderate temperatures have arrived, the New Bedford Department of Public Infrastructure has begun working on improvement projects at several key intersections throughout the city.

Improvements to Intersection of Route 6 and Route 140 at Brownell Avenue
As of April 1st, the City of New Bedford in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has begun the project to improve the safety and flow of vehicular traffic at the intersection of Kempton Street (Route 6), Route 140 and Brownell Avenue. The project improvements will include re-paving of roadway surfaces, adding new traffic signals, improved drainage systems, trees and sidewalks, traffic signs and pavement markings. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes of travel and when possible, avoid the intersection while it is under construction.

The project will be conducted in phases over a period of 36 months. This project has been a longtime priority of the City of New Bedford and MassDOT as it is one of the highest volume intersections in the City and the efficiency of traffic flow is among the poorest. In addition, Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District and MassDOT have identified the intersection as the 15th most dangerous intersection in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts based on the history of motor vehicle accidents that have occurred there.

MacArthur Drive Rail Rehabilitation Project
Crews are currently working to complete the MacArthur Drive Rail Rehabilitation Project to rehabilitate a section of rail from Union Street southerly to the Fairfield Inn Hotel. The project consists of removing existing rail and replacing it with new railway, improving utilities and protection measures where required, and installing new concrete driveways and wheelchair accessible ramps.

Lower Union Street
On March 24, 2014 crews began work on the final phase of the Lower Union Street Improvement Project. This phase will includes installation of crosswalks constructed of granite runners and bluestone at the intersection of Water Street and Union Street. In addition, the area within the crosswalks will be constructed of cobblestones.

In the earlier phases of the Project, the City upgraded the concrete sidewalks along the last block of Union with wider sidewalks composed of a mixture of brick and bluestone and narrowed the roadway and paved it with cobblestones.

As part of this streetscape improvement project, new lights will also be installed and trees will be planted throughout the limits of the project.

As of Monday March 31, 2014 the last block of Union Street is closed to vehicular traffic for two to three weeks while P.A. Landers, the City’s paving contractor on the project, reconstructs the sidewalks and roadway at the intersection of Water and Union Streets. Crews from the Department of Public Infrastructure under the leadership of Commissioner Ron Labelle will work alongside P.A. Landers to help reduce the project costs.

Motorists are encouraged to watch for detour signage and use either Elm Street or Walnut Street to enter and exit the downtown. Businesses on lower Union will remain open for business during the construction and residents and visitors are encouraged to patronize these establishments.

Rodman Street Plaza
In April, crews will begin working to install a plaza at the end of Rodman Street using bluestone material. The project will include green space and a stone sitting wall will be constructed on the west side of the plaza.