This evening, December 22,  the MassDOT will be holding a public meeting to offer residents information about the upcoming construction that will soon begin as the Mass. Department of Transportation adds a lane to widen Route 128 in the final phase of this state and federally funded road-widening which began in Randolph and is now approaching Route 9. The construction will include replacing several bridges over Route 128 from Needham through Wellesley, including replacing the Route 9 bridge that crosses Rt. 128 and redesigning that intersection as a two-leaf cloverleaf from its current four-leaf cloverleaf configuration with the addition of several traffic lights on Route 9. Although Newton does not fall within the Add-A-Lane Project’s boundaries, there will be heavy impacts on our City during and after construction. Tonight’s meeting at Needham Town Hall at 6:30P.M. will be the most favorable chance for Newton residents to hear about the scheduling of the construction, to get an over-view of the Project, and to ask questions about the impact of the Project on our side of the Charles. The meeting is at Needham Town Hall, 1471 Highland Avenue,  at 6:30P.M. in the Auditorium in Needham. DOT’s meeting notice states: ” The meeting shall specifically address traffic management, upcoming construction activities and the intended construction schedule. A general overview of the project will be discussed at the meeting. This effort will be coordinated with MassDOT representatives, the Contractor, and the Design Consultant. Representatives of each will be present at this public meeting. The public outreach website, sign up for project email advisory, and alerts for traffic updates will be discussed at this meeting. For more information, please contact Trish Foley, MassDOT Legislative Liaison, at 857- 368-8907.”