Customer Reviews

Boston's Central Artery (MA) (Images of America)

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As a Bostonian who has driven the Central Artery for at least 20 years this book was very enlightening. Completed in 1959 a year before I was born it (the artery) was intended to be only a very small part of a much bigger road plan. It was designed and mostly built before the 1956 interstate plan was put in to place by President Eisenhower. Even if it weren't overloaded daily with too much traffic the actual speed limit is only 35mph. Certainly not interstate material.
This book shows in pictures the community the central artery diplaced. The upheaval it caused and why the people of Boston rose up to revolt against all future hiway construction. Although some projects were still completed against the people's will, mainly the Massachusetts Turnpike and the I-93 connection through Somerville, MA.
The book even tells of some interesting state of the period de-icing equipment in the road bed that "fell in to disuse" as well as a 'South Station Tunnel' control room that also met the same fate. It is amazing to read about the dreams the people of 50 years ago had for a project that is now an inadequate, ugly, rusting hulk that will soon be a part of Boston's history.

I love the book very much. The photographs are very excellant and history of the Boston Central Artery construction pre Big Dig Construction. Bye Bye Green Monster Central Artery after I93 Southbound opened on 12/20/2003.