After years of discussion and planning, construction on the Longfellow Bridge is finally set to begin this summer — bringing with it a slew of traffic detours and MBTA service interruptions.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s board of directors voted Wednesday to approve a contract for the long-awaited renovation, clearing the way for the $255 million project that will lead to three years of disruptions, including the curtailment of Red Line service for 25 weekends and the elimination of northbound traffic throughout the project.
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Two comments: someone should explain why we didn't just hire summer crews with paint brushes and rust oleum in order to avoid this massive rebuild.
second, Cambridge has the auto traffic so congested with crosswalks stop signs in Kendell Square, is it really worth it?
Perhaps you'd be happier to wait until the bridge collapses into the Charles?
Does government do anything you approve of, "thecpt"?
Interesting question. Approve? Don't know. Find tolerable because I believe in the necessity, certainly some.
But so much is so grossly preverted - by abuse and scamming - everything is tainted.
For example - FastLane is great... until you realize that 1) you are paying tools to fund a bond that was only renewed to keep tolltakers on the payroll and 2) dispite half the tollboths being flipped to "automated"...there arent "less" tolltakers.
Or...when trying to cut back due to any belt tightening....the govt immediately goes after the things most important to the taxpayer (punishment) vs those that offer the least value (rational cost reduction).
Example - releasing ILLEGAL ALIENS. Really? Couldn't take EBT cards AWAY from ILLEGALS...had to release CRIMINALS into the populace.
Example - cutting TSA and Air Traffic. Of course, this will impact COMMERCE and REVENUE, and really annoy those of us that work for a living.... but no cuts to the EBT crowd. No "hack" furlough.
Provide services to the poor and elderly? Need only look at the Chelsea housing director. Protect us from criminals and nefarious businesses...need only look at the state crime lab, and the folks who were supposed to (got paid to...but didn't) inspect the drug componding pharmacy.
If I may ask, what to you approve of that the govt does?
Restoring this historic landmark and critical link between Cambridge and Boston is tremendously important to the people who live and work here. Simply repairing the bridge and preventing structural failure will a major accomplishment by the time they are done but the leadership at MassDOT are going the extra mile by providing new broader sidewalks on the bridge overlooking the Charles River Basin and building an elegant new pedestrian bridge to the Esplanade while at the same time reclaiming valuable parkland. They should be commended. The Longfellow Bridge, when completed a few years from now, will help knit together the parks and make the Charles River Reservation a far better place to walk and bike. Thanks to this vital work the Longfellow Bridge will be an admired landmark and a meaningful link between cities for generations to come.
Biggest problem is ---It's not wide enough!! A rebuild allowing for 6 car lanes, 2 bike lanes, sidewalks and the MBTA under the river would have been the best bang for our buck in the long run!! It will be just like the Big Dig in the end--CONGESTED AND OUT OF DATE!!!
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To 5155, agree that the work should be done BUT, I wish there were a betting line in Vegas for the chances of this project 1, getting done on time, and 2, getting done on budget. I'm thinking 1000 to 1 NOTHING THE GOVERNMENT DOES EVER GETS DONE CORRECTLY NOWADAYS PERIOD! The jackals in the "trades" will live up to their mantra which is "don't kill the job". You watch and see.
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I can imagine what Storrow drive eastbound (by MGH & CRP) will look like.
And the two lane access to Craigie Bridge (at the Museum MBTA stop).
I must remember to load up the car with my 3 act opera CDs (maybe
William Tell or Don Giovanni).