Block of Harvard Square will be permanently closed to traffic, European-style

"Between Dewolfe Street and Plympton Street, Lower Bow Street has been closed due to construction for two years "without causing significant impacts on the safety or functionality of the surrounding traffic patterns," Cambridge Transportation Commissioner Brooke McKenna wrote in a statement to the city manager. McKenna continued, "This has demonstrated that from a traffic perspective, this location is an excellent opportunity for pedestrianization. In addition, during COVID, the adjacent restaurants, with front doors on Mt. Auburn Street, had robust outdoor dining on Bow Street with great success.""

"City Councilor Patty Nolan began pushing for automatic bollards that can be lowered with a code, allowing delivery drivers to pass through, in 2020. "The city continues to have serious reservations about the reliability, maintenance burdens, installation challenges, and cost of automatic bollards," McKenna wrote in her Sept. 11 statement. On Monday, Nolan said Bow Street "seems to be an ideal way to try [automatic bollards] because it's such a small, very specific street.""

Cambridge City Council approved closing a block of Lower Bow Street in Harvard Square to vehicle traffic to enable outdoor patio dining. Blue Bottle Coffee, Daedalus Restaurant and Sea Hag Restaurant & Bar will have back patio spaces beginning in spring. The block between Dewolfe and Plympton Streets has been closed for two years for construction without causing significant traffic safety or functionality impacts. Cambridge Transportation Commissioner Brooke McKenna described the site as an excellent pedestrianization opportunity and noted prior successful outdoor dining during COVID. The exact type of street blockage is undecided, and debate continues over automatic bollards due to reliability, maintenance, installation, and cost concerns.

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