Cignoli, MassDOT deliver update on construction at The X

DPW Director Chris Cignoli explains with streets at the X will become one-way.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen

SPRINGFIELD — Several dozen Forest Park residents attended a meeting at Forest Park Middle School to hear the latest updates on changes at The X, the intersection of Sumner and Belmont avenues and Dickinson Street.

The city of Springfield and Massachusetts Department of Transportation are two years into a six-year, $26 million project to completely redesign and construct the intersection.

At the start of the April 8 meeting, Mayor Domenic Sarno told residents that the city had been lobbying the state for this project for decades. He said changes to the “major thoroughfare” would “transform the whole area.” Ward 6 City Councilor Victor Davila said, “The project is not a want, but a need, a public safety need.”

The project area stretches along Sumner Avenue, from Churchill Street to east of Daytona Street, the area of Belmont Avenue between Burlington and Ormond streets, and along Dickinson Street between Burlington and Cliffwood streets. Several nearby streets will also be affected, including Commonwealth Avenue and Cliffwood, Lennox, Ormond, Burlington and Oakland streets.

DPW Director Chris Cignoli began by clarifying that, despite rumors, “There is no roundabout in the center of the X.” There will, however, be changes to traffic patterns.

Among these are plans to change the streets leading in and out of the X to one-ways. Cignoli explained that traffic entering the X from Belmont will need to turn onto Ormond — a one-way — and make a left turn. Vehicles exiting the X to travel toward East Longmeadow will turn onto Belmont, which will be a one-way between Sumner and Commonwealth. A similar pattern will play out on the opposite side of Belmont, which will be a one-way route from Burlington to Sumner. The traffic pattern changes will not go into effect until 2028 or 2029, and there will be public advisories and signage prior to the changes.

Cignoli also addressed concerns people have previously had about losing trees as part of the project. He explained that a previous plan involved widening the streets and would have required a reduction of about 120 trees. Since then, the on-street bike lanes have been removed and instead of 5-foot sidewalks, 8-foot multi-use lane will be installed, allowing pedestrians and bicyclists to share the space. While some trees will still be removed, a robust landscaping plan will result in 57 more trees than are currently planted in the construction area. The number of trees that will be preserved has also increased.

Cignoli said there will be an increase in the number of sidewalks in the area, not only at intersections, but also mid-block. The plan also calls for sheltered bus stops. The redesigned streets will lead to what Cignoli described as “dead areas” of what would be empty concrete spaces on the side of some roads. Instead, the plan calls for “plazas” with seating and lighting in these places.

Initial utility work and some tree work was completed in 2025. Sidewalks and drainage work on Sumner, as well as water line work on Dickinson and Burlington will be completed by the end of April. Between May and August, crews will excavate parts of Sumner, Dickinson, Ormond, Burlington and Cliffwood. Work on the multi-use lanes will continue through spring 2027. There will also be utility relocation and electrical work during the year ahead.

MassDOT Construction Area Engineer Todd Moylan said abutters will be notified before any planned utility interruptions occur. Throughout the project, he said “every effort” is being made to limit disruptions to residents, pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles. Most street closures will be scheduled for five or six hours overnight. “Obviously, there will be backups, yes,” Moylan said, but daytime closures will mostly be limited to single lanes.

Referring to construction disruptions, Cignoli said he prefers “a big pain for a small time” as opposed to smaller disruptions over longer periods. He said he is working to make sure the crews collaborate on the work to ensure it is as expedited as possible.

Residents asked a variety of questions, ranging from business owners upset about trash and roadway debris to concerns about uneven pavement. Cignoli told the former person that the DPW and Parks and Recreation Department share responsibility for emptying trash and cleaning the streets. Moylan gave the latter individual good news when he said Sumner is slated to be milled and paved later this year.

The president of a concerned citizens’ group asked about the roadway lighting fixtures and said the “cobra head” lights lead to increased traffic speeds.

“We’re installing cobra heads,” Cignoli said, adding that parts for the decorative or “architectural” lights are no longer available. He said that is what is available through Eversource, with which the city has a contract. “Architectural lights don’t put out the needed light on a four-lane street,” he told the resident. The bases for the cobra head lights are already being installed.

Another person asked if signs alerting drivers to closed lanes can be put out further down the street, giving drivers more time to move into the correct lane. Cignoli said he would speak with the crews.

Asked if there will be further changes to the plan, Cignoli told Reminder Publishing, “Big stuff? None. The plan in general is the way it will look.”

Moylan said all project materials are available in English, Spanish and Vietnamese at mass.gov/the-x-springfield. Comments and concerns can be sent to MassDOTSpringfieldX@dot.state.ma.us.