WALTHAM, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Waltham Public Works crews closed off Moody Street before sunrise on Friday in order to get the area ready for its summer outdoor dining season.
Starting on Saturday, the street will be closed to cars and bikes from Crescent to Pine until October, opening up shops and restaurants to pedestrian-traffic only.
The closures will allow restaurants to use the parking spaces in front of restaurants for outdoor dining seating.
Jeff Abellard, the owner of Bistro 781, said he is thankful the city is closing the street off after making the same decision in 2020.
"Last year was a fantastic hit, it was phenomenal," he said. "I don't know if we would have made it through the pandemic, it was big for us."
Pedestrians walking by seemed to be in favor of the move as well, including Waltham native Mark Costello.
"Looking forward to it this summer," Costello said. "I thought about it and they could have done this, you know, without the pandemic -- before the pandemic even started."
There was some pushback from a few shop owners in the neighborhood who said they benefit from car traffic as well, but most people in the area expressed support.
WBZ's Jim MacKay (@JimMacKayOnAir) reports.
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Written by Rachel Armany
(Photo: WBZ NewsRadio/Jim Mackay)