Porter Square Retaining Wall Repairs
Building a Better T
As part of our $9.6 billion, 5-year capital investment plan, we're renovating stations, modernizing fare collection systems, upgrading services for our buses, subways, and ferries, and improving the accessibility of the entire system.
As part of the MBTA's Capital Investment Plan, repairs to the Porter Square retaining wall are now complete. Crews performed these much-needed repairs along the wall that runs under Somerville Avenue and along the Commuter Rail tracks. This work ensures the integrity of the wall and reduces future maintenance costs.
Projected completion: June 2021
Cost: $2.5 million
Status: Completed
What to Expect During Construction
Neighbors could expect increased noise and periods of vibration from heavy equipment and machinery during construction. Contractors were on-site to make sure noise and vibration levels were in compliance with any existing ordinances.
To allow for this work, sidewalk access was temporarily moved parallel to the bike lane on Somerville Ave. Barriers and signage were in place to help direct pedestrian traffic.
Work occured on weekdays between 7 AM – 4 PM. Updates were posted here in advance if nighttime or weekend work was anticipated.
On Thursday, April 22, crews began repaving the section of Somerville Avenue next to the work site. This work was the last stage of construction for the project.
Construction Schedule
| Dates | Scheduled Work | Status | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dates | October 2020 | Scheduled Work | Demolition | Status | Completed |
| Dates | November 2020 | Scheduled Work | Installation of wall stabilizers | Status | Completed |
| Dates | December 2020 – February 2021 | Scheduled Work | Placement of concrete wall units | Status | Completed |
| Dates | March 2021 – June 2021 | Scheduled Work | Construction of sidewalk, barrier, and fence | Status | Completed |
| Dates | Late June 2021 | Scheduled Work | Demobilization / Project completion | Status | Completed |
Photo Gallery
Completed sidewalk, barrier, and fence at Porter Square (June 2021)
Completed retaining wall, Porter Square (June 2021)
The Porter Square retaining wall, under Somerville Avenue, is currently undergoing extensive repairs. (September 2020)
View of the Porter Square retaining wall being demolished on a cloudless day.
A look at the old Porter Square retaining wall before construction crews began repairs. (September 2020)
Street-level view of the Porter Square retaining wall undergoing extensive repairs. (September 2020)
A crew member uses an excavator to demolish the previous staircase to the track platform. (September 2020)
Installation of the sheet piles is complete. These are necessary to stabilize the existing block wall during construction of the new wall (December 2020)
Preparation work for the T-Wall construction: wall pads installed and compacted stone used to level (January 2021)
T-Wall precast blocks set and leveled into place (January 2021)
First and second courses of T-Wall blocks backfilling (January 2021)
Past Events
Contact Information
For questions, comments, or project updates email us at PorterSqROWRepairs@mbta.com.
Related Projects
Building a Better T
As part of our $9.6 billion, 5-year capital investment plan, we're renovating stations, modernizing fare collection systems, upgrading services for our buses, subways, and ferries, and improving the accessibility of the entire system.