North Station, Charles River Draw, & Tower A

[Stlin]

I'd note it's an improvement on the original design, which can be seen on page 10 of this thread, which means they thought about it. Per the EA, this design "is intended to complement the Zakim Bridge and to contribute to a shared aesthetic character."

That said, how many people are actually looking at the Zakim from this side? You can't see it from the Museum of Science or upstream, as it and the Lechmere viaduct block the views. If you're on the viaduct itself, your vantage point would be high up enough to view the Zakim over this new bridge. From the Boston side of the waterfront your view is already mostly blocked by 125 Nashua & the Jail. The only places I can see where you'd get the obstructed view is in North Point park, and that render is from what would probably be the single most obscured point. I'd argue that from the "best" view sheds of the Zakim, namely the N. Washington St Bridge, Portal Park, or Paul Revere Park, the view would be largely unaffected.

 

[Ruairi]

Probably cheaper to implement than getting a navigable waterway taken out of service under US law.

Yeah, figured there'd be some legal reason alright. It would still be navigable for small boats

 

[Stlin]

How many boats use this? Are they all pleasure craft?
Is it not used at all during the winter months.
Seems like a nuts expense and inconvenience for a few yacht owners to be able to putter about boston harbor.
I'll probably get shot out of a cannon for this view!

Yeah, figured there'd be some legal reason alright. It would still be navigable for small boats

... The existing bridge has just 4ft of clearance when closed. That's low enough for a tall person in a canoe to hit their head on it if they don't duck - it'd be questionable if the Coast Guard approved that, when the other bridges upstream and down provide at least 32ft. Plus, it opens a surprisingly large amount - "average of 3,365 bridge openings per year. Approximately 83 percent of bridge openings were for recreational navigation. The majority of recreational navigation occurs from April to October... The remaining 17 percent of bridge openings were for work boats, barges, tugs, police, fire, harbor master, commercial tour operators, and maintenance and test operations."

 

[stick n move]

I think something like the proposed bridge on the NEC in Norwalk CT would have looked a lot better. With this style the only time there is a visual obstruction between the two bridge towers is when the bridge is raised. During normal operation you just have the towers on either side. Plus truss bridges always look great. I dont have photoshop so I cant modify it to have the other bridges next to it, but you get the idea.

https://www.enr.com/articles/56460-...idge-begins-six-year-925m-path-to-replacement

 

[RandomWalk]

The Norwalk bridge has a much longer lift span. Perhaps if they cut the approach decks back to the seawalls.

 

[stick n move]

Different angle on streetsblog from the esplanade…damn.

https://mass.streetsblog.org/2024/1...n-will-last-8-years-per-environmental-filings

 

[eber]

Yeah, damn. I think this would be a similar view today? The structure is always that size though, so it's always obstructing instead of sometimes obstructing in the below image. (taken from google maps images of Nashua St park)

 

[ceo]

I think something like the proposed bridge on the NEC in Norwalk CT would have looked a lot better. With this style the only time there is a visual obstruction between the two bridge towers is when the bridge is raised. During normal operation you just have the towers on either side. Plus truss bridges always look great. I dont have photoshop so I cant modify it to have the other bridges next to it, but you get the idea.

The EA says:

The shorter span enables the tower columns to be framed together, which would reduce the size of the tower columns and, critically, allow mechanical equipment to be placed on this framing. With mechanical equipment supported by the framing, a singular drive configuration, which is considered the most maintainable and reliable operational configuration for a vertical lift bridge (compared to tower drive systems that require two sets of equipment), is possible.

 

[stick n move]

Yea from searching around it appears that the equipment is in a box on the roof so they added those large panels on the sides to block the box from view.

Id probably rather have it with just the box so its much thinner visually plus a darker color like the above bridge. I feel like if it was black it wouldnt stick out as much and then your eye would be drawn to the zakim behind it compared to the massive grey blob in front.

In the new bridge render they already got rid of the massive covered structures that were above the steps and walkway which is a big improvement.

It had previously looked like this:

If they basically go back to the darker color and roof box of the old render above with the walkways of the new render I think itd be a nice middle ground imo. Thats what they have in the pic of the bridge at the top of the post, just use 3 of those exact bridge and it would be good imo. Having it as barebones as possible would def help make it not so imposing.

 

[Jahvon09]

If the new bridge is designed like the one for Chelsea Street, it'll be slower than cold molasses in January!! I hate that bridge!!!