Why the big dig huffs a big dong...

fastfood · 04-01-2003, 11:42 PM

I'm probably not as upset as people that have been living in Mass. for the past ten years paying for the undersized underground tunnel, but I was really expecting better. I guess it is tough to forecast traffic 12 years in the future. My guess is that they underestimated. The old central artery bottlenecked down to two lanes, now we have three. I guess that is 50% better, but when the exit to storrow drive cloggs up ALL lanes, it really defeats the purpose. Now I don't want to upset the thousands of people that worked hard to build the tunnel/bridge, and it does look nice, but I was really expecting more. For the past year, I was counting down the months to my new speed limit all the way commute home. I have gained nothing.

They say it will take a month for people to get used to the exits, and that is what is slowing everything down, but I don't think there is much confusion at 10mph.

That's my rant for the week.

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JGard · 04-02-2003, 06:42 AM

yeah, thank god I don't have to drive to work...

but from what I've seen of the planning and such, they did totally underestimate how much traffic needed to travel through these new tunnels. But as you said, way back when, it was difficult to predict accurately.

I'd think that within a month or two, things should speed up a bit, once people have a clue as to what they're doing.

redobs · 04-02-2003, 06:46 AM

My sister's boyfriend used to work on the Big Dig, and he was telling me that when it finally opens that it will only relieve traffic by 5-15%.

Mgardenier · 04-02-2003, 11:53 AM

5-15%? hey combine that with the removal of nasty urban fabric crushing elevated road ways and I think that its worth it. just my 2 cents

paulatwork · 04-02-2003, 02:59 PM

The big dig definitely sucks, but can I also take this opportunity to hammer on boston drivers?

They make something bad (the big dig) and turn it into something much worse. I've driven in much more congested places (like Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur). In comparison, I feel that Boston drivers handle heavy traffic situations much worse, making everything all the more nasty.

Cramming into traffic light junctions blocking intersecting traffic, squeezing you out when you're trying to merge or change lanes, and just overall being really un-courteous on the road. I guess driving monster cars & SUVs around doesn't help either. What's up?

Definitely an element of Boston I won't miss when I head back home.

AWDPilot · 04-02-2003, 03:20 PM

It's a battle of ego's out there most days, noone will let anybody in because anyone who wants in is usually there because they were trying to cut everyone off to begin with, like driving in 3rd lanes that don't exsist and the like. And heaven forbid we let in people that drive like idots in boston, hence, no one gives anyone room.

If everyone in boston allow 2 carlengths (as oppsed to the maximum 1/2 carlength now) in between themselves in the car in front of them at all times when traffic is moving everything would flow much better.

As for the intersections, yeah I would have to agree that some people need to use a little more judgement when entering intersections, (especially at the end of storrow dr

)

That being said I haven't had any issues with boston traffic since I started commuiting in from Framingham, no one messes with the train (it's bigger then most) and has it's own road

04-01-2003, 11:42 PM	#1
fastfood Scooby Newbie Member#: 7202 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: In transition (Seattle, WA) Vehicle: 2002 Impreza WRX TrackWhore #09	Why the big dig huffs a big dong... I'm probably not as upset as people that have been living in Mass. for the past ten years paying for the undersized underground tunnel, but I was really expecting better. I guess it is tough to forecast traffic 12 years in the future. My guess is that they underestimated. The old central artery bottlenecked down to two lanes, now we have three. I guess that is 50% better, but when the exit to storrow drive cloggs up ALL lanes, it really defeats the purpose. Now I don't want to upset the thousands of people that worked hard to build the tunnel/bridge, and it does look nice, but I was really expecting more. For the past year, I was counting down the months to my new speed limit all the way commute home. I have gained nothing. They say it will take a month for people to get used to the exits, and that is what is slowing everything down, but I don't think there is much confusion at 10mph. That's my rant for the week. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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04-02-2003, 06:42 AM	#2
JGard Scooby Guru Member#: 1904 Join Date: Jul 2000 Chapter/Region: TXIC Location: Austin, TX Vehicle: 2017 Impreza Sport E36 M3/4/5	yeah, thank god I don't have to drive to work... but from what I've seen of the planning and such, they did totally underestimate how much traffic needed to travel through these new tunnels. But as you said, way back when, it was difficult to predict accurately. I'd think that within a month or two, things should speed up a bit, once people have a clue as to what they're doing.

04-02-2003, 06:46 AM	#3
redobs NASIOC Supporter Member#: 1501 Join Date: May 2000 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Nashua, NH Vehicle: 2009 WRX wagon Dark grey	My sister's boyfriend used to work on the Big Dig, and he was telling me that when it finally opens that it will only relieve traffic by 5-15%.

04-02-2003, 11:53 AM	#4
Mgardenier Scooby Specialist Member#: 7518 Join Date: Jun 2001 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Bellingham MA Vehicle: 2003 LL Bean Outback Black	5-15%? hey combine that with the removal of nasty urban fabric crushing elevated road ways and I think that its worth it. just my 2 cents

04-02-2003, 02:59 PM	#5
paulatwork Scooby Specialist Member#: 18407 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Singapore Vehicle: '02 PSM WRX wagon NESIC Trackh0z # 456	The big dig definitely sucks, but can I also take this opportunity to hammer on boston drivers? They make something bad (the big dig) and turn it into something much worse. I've driven in much more congested places (like Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur). In comparison, I feel that Boston drivers handle heavy traffic situations much worse, making everything all the more nasty. Cramming into traffic light junctions blocking intersecting traffic, squeezing you out when you're trying to merge or change lanes, and just overall being really un-courteous on the road. I guess driving monster cars & SUVs around doesn't help either. What's up? Definitely an element of Boston I won't miss when I head back home.

04-02-2003, 03:20 PM	#6
AWDPilot Scooby Guru Member#: 25058 Join Date: Sep 2002 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Shrewsbury, MA Vehicle: '21 '21 WRX Premium 14 Subarus...and counting	It's a battle of ego's out there most days, noone will let anybody in because anyone who wants in is usually there because they were trying to cut everyone off to begin with, like driving in 3rd lanes that don't exsist and the like. And heaven forbid we let in people that drive like idots in boston, hence, no one gives anyone room. If everyone in boston allow 2 carlengths (as oppsed to the maximum 1/2 carlength now) in between themselves in the car in front of them at all times when traffic is moving everything would flow much better. As for the intersections, yeah I would have to agree that some people need to use a little more judgement when entering intersections, (especially at the end of storrow dr ) That being said I haven't had any issues with boston traffic since I started commuiting in from Framingham, no one messes with the train (it's bigger then most) and has it's own road