Trapelo/Belmont Corridor Reconstruction Ready to Go

One of Belmont's major thoroughfares, the Trapelo Road/Belmont Street corridor that runs from Waltham to Cambridge and is the route for one of the busiest MBTA bus lines, will soon go under the shovel as the Massachusetts Department of Transportation will begin the reconstruction and repaving of the busy artery by the end of the summer.

"The project is moving forward," said Belmont Town Administrator David Kale at Monday's Belmont Board of Selectmen, July 15.

The extensive work – the roadway will be cold planed and resurfaced and will provide bicycle accommodation – was pushed back about six months after the MassDOT rebid its original request for proposal it released last August when it was discovered that the overhead electrical wires that power the MBTA's Route 73 trackless trolley line would need to be relocated. 

The $17.2 million reconstruction project – which will provide new traffic signals, sidewalks, landscaping and streetscape items – comes after more than 10 years of work by residents, town officials – led by Town Engineer Glenn Clancy – and the state to approve the project.