Boston Starts $11.1M Jones Avenue Street Project
Construction on a street improvement project in Dorchester's Woodrow Avenue area has begun, adding sidewalks, intersection changes and speed humps.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Home Renovation
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Boston Streets Team has started construction on the $11.1 million Jones Avenue Street Improvement project in Dorchester. The work targets Woodrow Avenue and connecting streets, including new sidewalks, paving, tree plantings, improved lighting and speed humps.
Why it matters
Neighbors on Woodrow Avenue have sought safety improvements because cars often speed through the area, and residents reported car accidents at the Jones Avenue intersection. For the Boston community, the project aims to make local streets safer for pedestrians and drivers.
The project totals $11.1 million and includes bump outs that would shorten pedestrian crossings on Jones Avenue by as much as one-third to one-quarter. The source does not state when the work is scheduled to be finished.
The players
Boston Streets Team
The City of Boston division responsible for street design and reconstruction projects like the Jones Avenue improvements.
Woodrow Avenue Neighborhood Association
A community group founded in 2016 by Johnson-Letonia to advocate for neighborhood improvements on Woodrow Avenue.
The details
Crews have started sidewalk work on Ballou Avenue, including full-depth replacement, and are addressing drainage issues on Ballou Avenue and Willowwood Street. Intersection designs at Jones and Ballou and at Willowwood and Dumas will be reconfigured with a focus on safety, and the project builds on temporary quick-build work done in 2019.
Timeline
2016: Johnson-Letonia founded the Woodrow Avenue Neighborhood Association.
2019: Temporary quick-build work was completed under the Neighborhood Slow Streets program.
2022: Permanent design work for the project began.
Late October 2026: Neighbors celebrated the start of construction.
Roadmap
The project turns temporary Neighborhood Slow Streets quick-build measures from 2019 into permanent construction. It follows a pattern of Boston converting pilot street changes into lasting infrastructure.
Residents on Woodrow Avenue and nearby streets will see new sidewalks, paving and speed humps as construction proceeds. Drivers and pedestrians near Jones Avenue should expect changed intersection layouts once the bump outs are built.
The takeaway
Neighborhood-driven projects that begin as temporary fixes can become permanent when residents keep pressing for them. Watch for the speed humps and intersection changes if you travel through Woodrow Avenue or Jones Avenue.
Further reading
For related local updates, explore Home Renovation coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Dorchester Reporter.
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