Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Cambridge commuters can expect congested streets as the city hopes to improve safety for bikers and pedestrians near the Boston University Bridge.
The Department of Conservation and Recreation [DCR] is prepared to start construction on a $1.5 million project on Monday, spanning through Nov. 26. Crews will be working on Memorial Drive between Magazine Street and Audrey Street.
Commuters should expect extra traffic and detours near the Boston University [BU] rotary.
“The safety improvement work includes widening the shared use path leading to the BU rotary; improving and reconfiguring wheelchair ramps and median islands at the intersection of Memorial Drive and the BU Bridge; replacing nearly 700 linear feet of existing Boston Pattern Fence; restriping the crosswalks; and implementing a speed limit reduction to 25 mph along the BU Bridge corridor,” said the DCR in a statement.
The project comes after the recent death of 62-year-old John Corcoran of Newton, who was killed last month while biking on Memorial Drive. Back in June, two other cyclists were fatally struck elsewhere in the city.
WBZ NewsRadio’s James Rojas spoke with residents in the area, most of whom agreed that the safety improvements were necessary.
“I saw somebody get hurt the other day, so any kind of safety issue needs to be taken care of,” said one woman.
“It would be an inconvenience, but I’m all for safer roads for the cyclists and pedestrians,” said one man.
“It’s worth it for safety. Three deaths is three too many,” said another man.
WBZ NewsRadio’s James Rojas (@JamesRojasMMJ) reports.
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