Bowker Overpass replacement?

thepixelnation said:
RIP to a better Bowker, maybe in 15 when it starts to deteriorate again
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What is doubly screwed up about this project of replacing the Bowker overpass with a new one is not only does this project perpetuate an elevated expressway through a major park, it also costs some big bucks that could be better used for BRT lane establishment elsewhere, as well as additional bike lanes and multi-use paths at other locations. So, we're spending scarce funds on perpetuating a 1960s elevated expressway (through a park!) at the expense of expanding transit and micromobility options around the city.
 
Charlie_mta said:
What is doubly screwed up about this project of replacing the Bowker overpass with a new one is not only does this project perpetuate an elevated expressway through a major park, it also costs some big bucks that could be better used for BRT lane establishment elsewhere, as well as additional bike lanes and multi-use paths at other locations. So, we're spending scarce funds on perpetuating a 1960s elevated expressway (through a park!) at the expense of expanding transit and micromobility options around the city.
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totally agree, but now thinking about it all i can see is the potential "progressives want to take down the iconic 'BOSTON STRONG' bridge" headlines from the herald
 
I ventured over to the bowker/fenway area last weekend, and it's appalling how much of a car sewer that whole area still is. With fenway/time-out market nearby it could be one of the most vibrant, pedestrianized hubs but instead many streets are choked with non-moving cars trying to weave around people walking. And every bike lane (even protected ones) dump you into a 5-lane-wide unmarked shitshow of cars at every intersection. Having appropriate ped/bike access over the bowker is welcome but that entire area (comm ave & beacon st under the bridge as well) need a full transformation.
 
sneijder said:
I ventured over to the bowker/fenway area last weekend, and it's appalling how much of a car sewer that whole area still is. With fenway/time-out market nearby it could be one of the most vibrant, pedestrianized hubs but instead many streets are choked with non-moving cars trying to weave around people walking. And every bike lane (even protected ones) dump you into a 5-lane-wide unmarked shitshow of cars at every intersection. Having appropriate ped/bike access over the bowker is welcome but that entire area (comm ave & beacon st under the bridge as well) need a full transformation.
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What kind of transformation would you do?
 
The Emerald necklace conservatory shared this on their Facebook. Apparently theres a meeting thursday online regarding the overpass:

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Link:
https://www.mass.gov/event/boston-b...2024-07-11t180000-0400-2024-07-11t190000-0400
 
dhawkins said:
The stone barrier was taken down between Commonwealth and Beacon. Its amazing how this removal makes the area so much larger. I wonder if the barrier was a noise mitigation effort?

Before

After
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No idea why it was originally built either if it was non-structural, and entirely agree that's a remarkably positive change, nice to see.

It also makes it a lot easier to visualize how some of the proposed ideas for activating that land could work out.

I did find the 2022 notice of intent for the wall removal: https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/file/2022/01/Charlesgate Park NOI Packet_Combined.pdf - while it'll probably have much less of an effect, looks like they were supposed to be taking down the wall at the south end that "hides" the Pike too, has that also happened?
 
No idea why it was originally built either
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I couldn't find any definitive, except for a reference to a 1998 design charrette ("Under the Overpass: A Day of Visions for a Sad Landscape") where a participant noted that the curved walls adding nothing to the space, which seems to imply some decorative intent.
 
While grounding the overpass would've been ideal, I understand that grounding it while maintaining a Pike crossing and connecting to Storrow was always going to be tough.
That being said, I appreciate the simplification of the southern terminus into a four-way intersection that creates a two-way road down to Comm Ave on the western side of the overpass. Providing viable green space between the overpass and the Muddy River (rather than a very disjointed space with the on/off ramps).
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It's definitely a MASSIVE right of way still, but I do think it will be an overall improvement.
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The craziest thing to me is this bid ONLY gets the replacement over to Comm Ave eastbound and repaving to the Storrow ramps.
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Also $4 million for police details?? Can anyone confirm if the "FA" and "NFA" funding mechanisms are being impacted by the overlord and his cronies in Washington?
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CBCArch61 said:
While grounding the overpass would've been ideal, I understand that grounding it while maintaining a Pike crossing and connecting to Storrow was always going to be tough.

[snip]

It's definitely a MASSIVE right of way still, but I do think it will be an overall improvement.
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This is the basis for my support. The massive improvement for pedestrian and bike access between Comm Ave and Boylston St. is a big win. The daylighting of the park on the Charlesgate East section is also a big win. Yeah, we hate car infrastructure, but as a society, we are 50 years away from a consensus on eliminating this bridge. Until then, I want to deal with the possible, and I think this proposal is the best we can get within that framework.
 
The ironic thing about the Bowker overpass is it probably never would have been built if not for the Mass Pike being built. At the time (early 60s), the Mass Pike construction wiped out the Charlesgate bridge over the railroad tracks, so a replacement was needed, and the MDC figured they might as well piggyback on that project and extend the bridge to Storrow Dr. Two totally unconnected facilities (Mass Pike and the Bowker) were built together because of economies of scale and a logistical opportunity. Another accident of history.
 
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