Longfellow Bridge update

OK, let's hop over to the other side of the bridge.

Looks like they're putting some kind of lagoon in. The stairs off the bridge go on some elevated path across this body of water; and a retaining wall with notch looks like something that might be in your back yard hot tub.

Anyone know what this will finally look like and why?

mOOhFsE.jpg


SjFYpgb.jpg
 
Equilibria said:
Mass Eye and Ear has proposed to landscape the parking lots on that side... maybe this is a part of that? I never saw a finished plan.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/busines...over-garage/F4epkLgxHZ8jS24zE8XQmJ/story.html
Click to expand...

So far that plan never has advanced, since it involves massive roadway reconfiguration to compact Storrow and the Charles Circle ramp. MassDOT hasn't given any reciprocal response about their proposed share of costs.


This might be some mild lipsticking-on-pig in the interim while they wait for answer. I don't think the hospital ever expected the lot to be returned to service for full parking after the state finished using it as a Longfellow construction staging area, since it's horrendously dangerous and a zero on ADA compliance for their own patrons. They'd have to sink some pretty serious dough on accessibility upgrades just to keep it long-term as functional parking, so that alone explains much of their willingness to front a large sum of their own money for the park conversion. The lot was going to cost them any which way.
 
Man those ramps and lots consume so much space that could be used so much better
 
Drove by this last night. Genuinely cool. Great to see things like this in the city.

Sometimes, it's good to be in a fog


It's funny though, that they spent so much time and effort to keep the bridge as historically accurate as possible and then threw a bunch of LEDs on it.
 
statler said:
It's funny though, that they spent so much time and effort to keep the bridge as historically accurate as possible and then threw a bunch of LEDs on it.
Click to expand...

In the age of Instagram, historical accuracy apparently needs help. It its way, the Longfellow is Boston's Eiffel Tower, so I'm not terribly troubled by the lights...
 
I love them. I hope they add some to the towers. The dark silhouettes look cool, but some accent lighting would look great.
 
I need to motor west tomorrow in the late evening and will check them out. The ethereal photo has inspired me to revisit some tracks from Portishead and the Cocteau Twins.
 
statler said:
It's funny though, that they spent so much time and effort to keep the bridge as historically accurate as possible and then threw a bunch of LEDs on it.
Click to expand...

Well, it's not so easy to find an electrical contractor willing to wire-up dim series-circuit incandescents so you have the fully authentic 1906 historical experience of one burnt bulb sending the whole bridge dark.

Plus...you know...'real' historical accuracy entails making Storrow completely disappear. . .

Longfellow-Bridge-1923.jpg


^^1923^^
 
"The Longfellow Bridge Rehabilitation Design-Build project was honored by the American Public Works Association (APWA) with a 2019 Public Works Project of the Year Award in the category of Historical Restoration/Preservation more than $75 million.
The award will be presented at a ceremony and reception, to be held Monday September 9th during APWA’s Public Works Expo (PWX) at Washington State Convention Center in Seattle."

bostonrealestatetimes.com

Historic Boston Bridge Wins National Public Works Award - Boston Real Estate Times

BOSTON – The Longfellow Bridge Rehabilitation Design-Build project was honored by the American Public Works Association (APWA) with a 2019 Public Works Project of the Year Award in the category […]
bostonrealestatetimes.com
 
Just rode across the bridge again today, lovely bike lanes, its a shame that when you land in the Boston side you get thrown straight into Sharrow Hell on Cambridge St until you get to the cycletrack at Staniford St. Cambridge St seems absolutely wide enough to toss at least some regular bike lanes on, and connect the great bike network from longfellow and the new ped bridge with the great cycletrack that goes off to the North End. Just another one of those annoying "missing links".
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top