Snow removal in Boston is an age old question for the fine folks over at MIT.
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Ok I changed my mind someone go pitch the MPO on running a pilot where I get to walk around all winter with a flame thrower
bigpicture7
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That is an absolutely hilarious artifact; thank you. for sharing. Do you know whether it was meant in sarcasm or is there some other interpretation? It's hard to imagine even in 1948 that was serious...
Well, as all things Mayor Curley, I am pretty sure he was serious - I mean who wouldn't want to use flamethrowers to remove snow.
For completeness, here is MIT's response, which I think is equally as amusing:
1948 MIT President to Mayor: Try Salt
alum.mit.edu
I finally was able to use my propane torch to melt some snow and ice this winter. The only downfall is that if it's windy, I have to constantly relight the torch however it works incredibly well for ice, and especially in the past several weeks with lack of salt.Well, as all things Mayor Curley, I am pretty sure he was serious - I mean who wouldn't want to use flamethrowers to remove snow.
For completeness, here is MIT's response, which I think is equally as amusing:
1948 MIT President to Mayor: Try Salt
millerm277
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I don't see any mention of this, but beyond the Bowker (mentioned in it's thread), some other significant bridge contracts were awarded by MassDOT last week: https://www.mass.gov/event/meeting-of-the-massdot-board-of-directors-february-2025-02-26-2025
Most significantly in my eyes: The Rourke bridge in Lowell will finally be getting the permanent replacement for it's 1983 temp bridge.
Most significantly in my eyes: The Rourke bridge in Lowell will finally be getting the permanent replacement for it's 1983 temp bridge.
dhawkins
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Congrats to NYC and a milestone in the renovation of the George Washington Bridge! CBS New York
Also, I did an AB search to see if this had been posted and found some cool posts from a couple years ago, fantastic pics! Great AB post about Washington Bridge and another post with great pics Walk on GWB- good stuff!
Also, I did an AB search to see if this had been posted and found some cool posts from a couple years ago, fantastic pics! Great AB post about Washington Bridge and another post with great pics Walk on GWB- good stuff!
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thepixelnation
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Now add the subway it was designed to hold!
Actually... So I have a super niche question. I was looking at the new Harvard Square Plaza plans, and I realized that the crosswalks there make zero sense. Specifically, why are there 3 distinct Mass Ave pedestrian crossings on the "western" / Brattle / Kennedy side of the Plaza? Because it's fed by one ways it's controlled by a single traffic phase... So in practice it's a single 170+ft wide crossing. It should be a free for all, but it isn't- Locals treat it like that, tourists are confused by it, but people absolutely gravitate towards the markings. I get that because it's so wide you'd need multiple pedestrian signal heads... but it's already so wide that there's several already there. The tiny interspersions of not-crosswalk are so minimal to basically provide zero lane guidance for drivers. Worse, the last presentation from the Mass Ave reconstruction plan, plus the plaza reconstruction, shows the status quo state of affairs to be the plan into the future, so... Why?
I've never questioned it because I'm so used to it, but is there a standard for maximum crosswalks width or something? Crossing distances for timing? I imagine there isn't a max width, because otherwise speed tables wouldn't be a thing - is this worth writing an email to the massave reconstruction folks asking for a sidewalk level raised crossing spanning the full distance?
I've never questioned it because I'm so used to it, but is there a standard for maximum crosswalks width or something? Crossing distances for timing? I imagine there isn't a max width, because otherwise speed tables wouldn't be a thing - is this worth writing an email to the massave reconstruction folks asking for a sidewalk level raised crossing spanning the full distance?
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