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Did the Big Dig reduce traffic?
It reduced traffic and improved mobility in one of America’s oldest, most congested major cities. It built a framework for continued growth in Massachusetts and New England. Additionally, it improved the local environment. The project replaced Boston’s deteriorating six-lane elevated Central Artery (I-93).
Was Boston’s Big Dig worth it?
In the end, the Big Dig was a success and worth the wait. The tunnel did, in fact, alleviate congestion, and carbon emissions in Boston dropped by 12\% because cars were moving instead of idling in traffic.
Why is Big Dig project a failure?
Some failures were due to problems in the construction process, such as the concrete that was not properly mixed, leading to leaks. And some were a combination of design and execution; the ceiling collapse that killed the car passenger was traced to problems in epoxy.
How long will the Big Dig last?
The Boston Globe estimated that the project will ultimately cost $22 billion, including interest, and that it would not be paid off until 2038.
How much did the Big Dig go over budget?
However, the project was completed in December 2007 at a cost of over $8.08 billion (in 1982 dollars, $21.5 billion adjusted for inflation, meaning a cost overrun of about 190\%) as of 2020.
How does traffic get to the tunnels in Boston?
Traffic on the major highways from west of Boston—the Massachusetts Turnpike and Storrow Drive —mostly traveled on portions of the Central Artery to reach these tunnels. Getting between the Central Artery and the tunnels involved short diversions onto city streets, increasing local congestion.
What happened to the Boston Big Dig?
The original Big Dig plan also included the North-South Rail Link, which would have connected North and South Stations (the major passenger train stations in Boston), but this aspect of the project was ultimately dropped by the state transportation administration early in the Dukakis administration.
What happened to the elevated highway in Boston?
Replacing the six-lane elevated highway with an underground expressway beneath the existing road. This finished at its northern limit in a 14-lane, two-bridge crossing of the Charles River. After the underground highway opened to traffic, demolition of the crumbling elevated artery. Finally, in its place, open space and modest development.
What is the history of the Boston highway system?
Boston’s highway system before and after the Central Artery/Tunnel Project. The Central Artery/Tunnel Project (CA/T), commonly known as the Big Dig, was a megaproject in Boston that rerouted the Central Artery of Interstate 93 (I-93), the chief highway through the heart of the city, into the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) Thomas P. O’Neill Jr. Tunnel.