Central Artery Project Announced
On this day in 1954, The Boston Globe announced the opening of the first elevated expressway in the United States. Hailed as an engineering marvel and a model of urban planning, the Central Artery incorporated the latest technology, including on and off ramps that could melt snow. Reporters predicted that a 25-minute commute would be reduced to a mere two minutes. But rave reviews soon turned to frustration, as the number of traffic jams and accidents skyrocketed. After years of mounting complaints, in 1983 Governor Michael Dukakis announced that the Central Artery would be disassembled and replaced with the country's first underground and underwater urban expressway. Twenty years and $15 billion later, the "Big Dig's" submerged section opened to motorists.
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