🔨 Dig We Must
Library Parking Lot Closed for Construction | Upcoming Water & Sewer Projects | MWRTA Wants to Hear from You | Community Events | The Civic Week Ahead
No fooling here, Framingham. Construction season is beginning!
This week’s issue is very construction-heavy, with updates about projects, meetings, and detours. You’ll be seeing some major changes coming to the city soon, with the Danforth Building scheduled for demo this year.
NEWS & UPDATES
1. | Going to the main library? You Can’t Park in the Lot.
Next time you go to the Main Library, you will notice fencing and a shrinking parking lot. Work is beginning on the new regional courthouse on the site of the Danforth Building, and the library parking lot is needed.
What’s happening now: The city announced that exploratory work is underway for the Regional Justice Center’s new geothermal system. That means temporary fencing is going up and a portion of the library parking lot will go offline. But the bigger disruption is coming: when demolition of the former Danforth Building begins next month, the Main Library parking lot will be unavailable entirely.
The city says it will keep residents updated on a temporary parking lot as soon as details are available. So watch this space.
Courthouse, the big picture: The Regional Justice Center has been in the works for years, and it’s finally close to real. As I wrote last month, this is a 116,000-square-foot, three-story building designed by Finegold Alexander Architects, going up on the Union Avenue site where the Danforth Museum used to live. Groundbreaking is set for spring, with construction completion targeted for 2029.
The building will consolidate District, Juvenile, Probate & Family, and Housing Court — all of which currently operate out of scattered, aging facilities — into one modern location. It will also house the District Attorney’s Office and a Court Service Center. The design is all-electric, with geothermal wells for heating and cooling and solar panels.
What about long term parking? The courthouse plans maintain 60 parking spaces at the library lot — the same number as today — with signage to designate them for library use. But in the meantime, during demolition and construction, those spots are going away.
2. | The Pipes Beneath Us: A Season of Water & Sewer Work
Did you know some of the pipes currently serving residents date to 1906? This spring and summer, the Framingham will see multiple major projects either starting now or heading into the planning phase. Here’s the full rundown.
Starting Monday, March 30: Johnson & Purchase Streets
Already in Motion: The Water & Sewer Division announced that water main replacement work on Johnson Street and Purchase Street begins this week. The project is expected to take approximately 8 to 10 weeks, weather permitting.
What to expect if you live nearby:
Work hours: Monday–Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
No on-street parking during work hours for the duration of the project
Police details on-site as needed for traffic
Access maintained, but delays and disruptions are expected
Residents on the dead-end section of Johnson Street beyond Purchase Street will receive advance notice when work reaches them and will be asked to move vehicles out of driveways before 7 a.m. on those days
Temporary fire hydrants will be installed during the water bypass phase.
Residents will be notified separately ahead of any water service interruptions.
Coming this spring: Central Street & Kellogg Street
This is a big one: The city held a neighborhood meeting on March 19 at Dunning Elementary School to walk through plans for a sweeping upgrade of water and sewer infrastructure along Central and Kellogg Streets.
What’s being replaced or rehabilitated:
Approximately 13,600 feet of water mains — some original cast iron installed between 1906 and 1927 — along Central Street (from the Sudbury River Bridge to Centennial Place/Purchase Street) and Kellogg Street (from Central to Prospect Street)
About 1,700 feet of sewer pipe replacement on Central Street
An additional 9,100 feet of sewer pipe on Central and Kellogg rehabilitated using trenchless cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) technology — meaning less digging
Asbestos cement pipe removal, manhole work, and trench paving
Timeline: Construction starts this spring and runs through fall 2027, with a winter shutdown expected between November 2026 and April 2027. Roadway and sidewalk improvements will follow after the underground work wraps.
FHS Concerns: Residents at the March 19 meeting raised concerns about disruption near Framingham High School and Lowther Road. The city confirmed work hours will be 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, with access maintained throughout. Any water or sewer service interruptions will come with advance notice. All DPW and consultant staff carry city identification and are CORI-checked.
To learn more: The presentation from the March 19 meeting has been posted to the city’s website if you want to dig into the details.
On the horizon: Walnut, Warren, Prindiville & Burdette
Looking further ahead: DPW has scheduled a neighborhood meeting for Thursday, April 9 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the Farley School Building on Flagg Drive to discuss a major sewer and water upgrade affecting Walnut Street, Warren Road, Prindiville Avenue, Burdette Avenue, Buckminster Street, Middlesex Street, Hillcrest Road, Berkshire Road, Hamden Road, and Hampshire Road.
This project is a significant undertaking:
Replacement of approximately 4,250 feet of 16-inch sewer force main (pressure pipe)
Installation of 10,500 feet of 8-inch to 30-inch gravity sewer
Replacement of 4,500 feet of 8-inch to 16-inch water main
Rehabilitation of 2,800 feet of gravity sewer using trenchless CIPP technology
The sewer force main being replaced was originally installed in 1950 and has experienced multiple failures in recent years. It currently discharges into an over-capacity interceptor near Farm Pond. The project will redirect flow to a newer, higher-capacity interceptor on Grant Street installed in 2011.
Timeline: Construction is expected to begin in spring 2026 and continue through summer 2028. This work is being coordinated with Eversource’s Geothermal Phase II project and is being done ahead of planned roadway and sidewalk improvements in the area.
If you live in any of the affected neighborhoods, the April 9 meeting is your opportunity to ask questions directly of the project engineers and city staff.
3. | One Night Only: Mass Pike Ramp Closures Over Route 9
This one is short-lived but worth knowing about ahead of time. MassDOT has scheduled overnight bridge work on the Mass Pike westbound ramp bridges over Route 9 for the night of Thursday, April 2, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Friday morning.
During the work:
When the I-90 westbound (Exit 111) off-ramp to Route 9 westbound is closed: traffic will follow Route 9 eastbound and reverse direction at Country Club Lane to access Route 9 westbound
When the Route 9 westbound ramp to I-90 is closed: continue westbound on Route 9, then use Route 30 and Route 9 eastbound to access I-90
All work is weather-dependent and subject to change. Signage will be in place. If you’re a night owl or an early riser commuting through that area, plan accordingly.
4. | Last Call: Comment on the Bus Route Redesign by Today
The MetroWest Regional Transit Authority has been working on a redesign of its bus network, and the second public comment period closes tomorrow — Tuesday, March 31.
Goal of redesign: The redesign is aimed at improving access, reliability, and connectivity throughout the MetroWest region and public feedback is sought to shape what the final routes look like.
Current draft plan: You can view Draft #2 of the proposed routes and submit comments directly through the interactive map on their website. The comment window closes March 31.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Join Us for an Evening of Tasting the MetroWest!
Please join us for our largest signature event of the year, the 13th Annual Taste of MetroWest! Savor the Best of the Region as you enjoy local food, beverages, and sweet treats. Sample all the region has to offer. Also learn about the wonderful programs and services our community partners have to offer.
Our attendees will be sampling many offerings and vote to determine the Best in Drink, Appetizer, Entree, Dessert, & Presentation of the MetroWest!
Date is Monday, April 27, 2026 5:00-8:00pm. Tickets Available Now!
Support the FHS & Walsh Robotics Teams
VEX Robotics teams from Framingham High School and Walsh Middle School are headed to the World Championship competition in St. Louis in April!
VEX robotics teams from both Framingham High School and Walsh Middle School qualified for the World Championship competition to be held in St. Louis at the end of April.
Both clubs are fundraising to cover travel costs. Donations can be made via the Walsh PTO Venmo account. In the “What’s this for?” field, specify either FHS Robotics or Walsh Robotics.
Great Framingham Cleanup 6.0 - Friday 4/10 to Sunday 4/26
Keep Framingham Beautiful (KFB) is excited to announce their 6th annual Great Framingham Cleanup to be held from Friday 4/10 to Sunday 4/26.
Join hundreds of Framingham’s finest for this City-wide Clean Up Bonanza!
You can do cleanups on your own, organize a small group, or join one of KFB’s 3 group cleanups.
Details & Sign Up: https://www.k-f-b.org/gfc
THE CIVIC WEEK AHEAD
Tuesday, March 31
Wednesday, April 1
Thursday, April 2
IN CLOSING...
Enjoy the 70 degrees tomorrow!
Believe in Framingham,
