Urban benefits of underground construction

The Central Artery Tunnel Project, a largely underground interstate highway extension and improvement project, presents unprecedented opportunities to the City of Boston through the underground relocation of an existing highway (now on viaduct) which currently bifurcates Boston’s historic downtown core and visually cuts off the city proper from its waterfront. The new land over the underground highway presents new options for open space and air rights development, as well as an expected re-knitting of the urban fabric that is cut by the elevated highway. Views of, and pedestrian circulation to Boston’s historic waterfront will be significantly enhanced as a result of the Project. Challenging design issues such as joint development planning, utility relocation, pedestrian streetscapes and tunnel box load capacity are being addressed in ways that accommodate and enhance future real estate development. Well planned and executed underground urban transportation infrastructure projects should maximize long term financial and quality-of-life benefits for cities while achieving their transportation objectives. The CA/T Project is on track to fulfill these requirements.