Revere officials defend Route 1A roundabout plan as emergency‑access and park‑access fix; residents raise traffic and construction concerns

Revere City officials described a two‑phase plan to build a roundabout and a Gibson Park access road off Route 1A to speed emergency access to a new housing development and to add a separated pedestrian and bicycle path to the park. The presentation drew questions from neighbors about traffic cut‑throughs, the timing of park access (phase 2) and construction impacts.

Tom (Planning and Development) and Pete (project engineer, Howard/Stein‑Hudson) outlined the design: phase 1 is the roundabout and associated infrastructure in the state highway right‑of‑way and requires a MassDOT construction access permit; phase 2 is the park access road that will require an Article 97 review if it is deemed a taking of parkland. Tom said phase 1 plans are at roughly 75% design and the project team has submitted traffic studies and MEPA documentation.

Nut graf: City staff say the roundabout will shorten emergency response times to the adjacent Redgate development by about four minutes…