Couldn't they leave in the part underground to serve as the reinforcement, but chop off the top part at sidewalk level?I think they rebuilt the Washington St bridge by drilling piers behind the old abutments and pouring a pier cap on top. The old abutments are permanent retaining walls for a foundation like that.
The previous configuration had a turn lane for Boston Ave, and parking right up to both ends of the bridge on the opposite side (dead lane on the bridge).Wait, why is the new Broadway Bridge getting two traffic lanes in each direction? Broadway is not a two-lane street in that section.
A little sad to see that elevated rail get replaced. It has some nice character with the arching supports.
Is there a rendering of the new one somewhere?
I feel like I've missed something... are there no fare gates? Did they do on fare collection to save money?
Maybe they wanted to preserve the old wall for historic reasons (Section 106 and SHPPO)..Couldn't they leave in the part underground to serve as the reinforcement, but chop off the top part at sidewalk level?
It's going to look half-assed having half of the wall concrete, and half as the old bricks. Gives it character I suppose, fitting for the neighborhood. (Or maybe they'll cover the exposed stone with a thin layer of concrete?)
Yeah, I love the old elevated rail structures, mostly gone unfortunately. Here's a drawing of the old Green Line elevated near North Station, posted on the old official Big Dig project website at the time, artist unknown: