The Central Artery

 

What is it?


Largest,most technically challenging
most expensive public works project in US history($13B counting)
Third tunnel (Ted Williams) to Logan Airport
10-lane cable-stayed bridge over Charles River
new access bridge over Charles River
depress Central Artery below ground
reclaim land under current elevated Central Artery as park land
 

Why build it?


I-93 (Southeast expressway) originally designed for 75,000 trips/day;
by 1990,  it was 192,000 trips/day
 traffic from west wants to go to Logan or downtown
 traffic from south wants to go to Logan or downtown
 traffic from north wants to go to Logan or downtown 
 local traffic wants to stay local
 all the above currently share I-93 in downtown Boston

  

Why is it so expensive?

One-third of cost is “mitigation” - keeping the CA/T neighbors satisfied
Construction continues without disrupting existing highway(s)
Commuter rail & subway public transit systems active during construction
Federally protected waterway
and much existing infrastructure in place during construction ! 

 


Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering - Falmouth Hall 108, One University Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854,
Tel: 978-934-2280 Contact Us