Essex Street Reconstruction

The City of Lynn is working with Tighe & Bond, a transportation design and engineering firm, to develop plans to reconstruct Essex Street from Joyce Avenue to Eastern Avenue. The corridor has experienced an excessive number of crashes, with four of the intersections in the corridor listed in the MassDOT Statewide Top 200 High Crash Location List. Project objectives are to enhance safety, accessibility, and operations for all users through the full reconstruction of the corridor.

This project encompasses approximately 1 mile of Essex Street to include roadway pavement reconstruction, drainage improvements, improved design for traffic operation and safety for all roadway users, and provide new traffic signal upgrades, signs and pavement markings. The reconstruction project will also seek to improve access, convenience and reliability of bus transit along the corridor.

The Essex Street project is a $20 million project, and is programmed for funding through State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The project is currently funded for Federal Fiscal Year 2028; we expect construction to begin end calendar 2028. The STIP is a five-year investment program that prioritizes federal and non-federal funds for improvements to our roadways, bridges, transit systems, and bicycle and pedestrian facilities throughout Massachusetts and in in collaboration with the City of Lynn.

The 25% Design Plans (Concept Design) were submitted for MassDOT for review on March 28, 2025. Following review, MassDOT will hold a public design hearing, which is currently anticipated for Spring of 2026. Stay tuned to this page for project updates and as additional engagement opportunities are scheduled.