I look at this entire project as the entire state of Massachusetts and the Federal government being told to go suck on half a billion dollars in debt so that BU can be left untouched. Or alternatively we are paying an extra half billion to preserve a single lane of traffic for a few hundred...
The better way to do this is not to do this.
Just reduce speeds and go down to two lanes on the Pike in both directions for however long it takes to demolish the existing raised structure. Shift the four lanes to the ground, then demo the other side. Grade and pave. Done.
The aggregate of...
I think the endless moving highways around because they won't shut it down for a few months to do the demo is maddening. If they add together all the road closures and lane reductions over that decade it would likely be less disruptive to just shut down all those roads, blow it all up, haul it...
I would so very much like to see a theme park or some conglomeration of entertainment and other facilities clustered in that area. Maybe a rollercoaster, ferris wheel, and lively waterfront outdoor marketplace.
Yes, things that you can't just slap a new sign on to repurpose. Which is both good and bad.
For better and worse there was no pre-existing architecture in that area to blend with... except bleak industrial or standard strip mall. Not that they would have tried, but now the burden is on...
They would if the bank was moved back an equal amount on the Cambridge side.
I agree it probably would never happen, but I also don't think this project should happen unless they ground the major road ways either by filling in the river, eliminating lanes or eliminating pedestrian...
Exactly. Add 20' to the bank of the Charles.
Or eliminate the pedestrian/bike infrastructure on that side of the Charles until transit capacity or demand drop proves a lane reduction/shift away from the Charles is possible.
Spending an extra billion and making the project take another...
It's ugly and will reduce the viability of the aquarium in Boston.
Despite what people might hope for the future of mass transit and autonomous cars... it isn't here yet and lack of proximity of parking is going to negatively impact membership and visits to the aquarium for everyone outside...