Starting on Monday, Oct. 27, the City of Cambridge's renovation of Linear Park will shut down a segment of the Mass. Central Rail Trail between Alewife and Davis Square, requiring detours for bike riders and pedestrians traveling in North Cambridge.
During the closure, pedestrians are encouraged to use Dudley Street, Shea Road, and Kingston Street to access the Community Path to Davis Square in Somerville (see map above).
Bicycle users will have more complicated detour routes along the neighborhood's one-way streets.
Bicyclists should note that Cambridge will reverse the one-way flow on Dudley Street from Cedar St. to Mass. Ave. during the construction work: motor vehicles and cyclists on that segment of Dudley will travel eastbound towards Mass. Ave.
Because the entire park will be closed, including most of its connections to side streets, there will also be a detour route for north-south traffic, via Clifton and Harvey Streets (a pedestrian connection to Whittemore Avenue will remain open during the work).
Improvements include wider paths and increased landscaping
When the work is complete, sometime in spring 2026, trail users will be able to enjoy a wider path with improved park amenities.
The current design of Linear Park dates to 1985, when the MBTA built it above its new Red Line extension subway tunnel to Alewife.
The upcoming renovation project aims to rehabilitate the park's 40-year-old infrastructure, fix drainage issues, add more park amenities like benches and new tree plantings, and widen the path to meet modern accessibility standards.
More details about the park renovation plans are available on the City of Cambridge's website.
Neighbors' lawsuit delayed work
Cambridge had intended to begin the work earlier this summer, but just before construction began, a small group of neighbors filed a lawsuit against the city and sought a restraining order from the courts to prevent the city from proceeding with the renovations.
In September, Superior Court judge Sarah Weyland Ellis rejected the plaintiffs' requests, writing that "granting the Plaintiffs injunctive relief would negatively impact the public by delaying the installation of vital safety improvements and amenities."
After a few weeks to re-coordinate schedules between the city and its contractor, work began earlier this week with the staging of work areas in advance of the full park closure that begins on October 27.
