Talk:Interstate 695 (Massachusetts)

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[edit] The Bridges over Storrow Drive near Kenmore.

Right near Kenmore Square I had read somewhere that those tan/oramge painted causeways which span over Storrow Drive. (The Southern Side of the Charles River.) were supposed to continue on into some sort of Bridge that was to span the Charles and be included in something like this Inner Belt plan as well. Has anyone heard/seen anything similar??? I think it was in the Globe or Herald or something.

But supposedly that plan too was scrapped now you just have the Bridges that literally lead from Kenmore Square Area--- that tower up to the edge of the Charles River and currently bank/turn hard to the right (for heading Inbound on Storrow Drive) and bank hard to the left at the same spot towards Storrow outbound) just as it approaches the Charles River. Infact I think it peaks out slightly over the Charles on the shoulder that leads towards Storrow Westbound I think if my memory serves me correctly. I do recall it certainly eats into the riverfront park area there. The BEST time to actually walk around and look at it closely is after the July 4 fireworks. Most traffic around there is stopped and you can really get up under those roadways and look at how they were constructed. I recall that article beceause just like Route 2 looks very out of place in the mannor it terminates, this Kenmore Square/Storrow Drive terminus looks very out of place as well.

P.S. There's still hope for Route 2. If the powers that be either place the Commuter rail near Alewife undergound, -or- placed Route 2 underneath the Commuter rail's right-of-way that could make Route 2 terminate closer to North Station almost. CaribDigita 04:53, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

The inner belt was supposed to connect with a highway on what is now the Orange Line corridor. The ramps you are talking about would not have been able to carry the traffic. Also the commuter rail right-of-way is nowhere near wide enough for a 6 (much less 8) lane Route 2 extension. --agr 11:58, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

Correct- not 6 lanes... However it could handle 2 in each direction 4 total. If the tracks were recessed as they are at Porter Square it would probably be similar to route 9 in appearence or- the stretch of route 2 just before you enter into Cambridge. The 8 lanes you speak of don't currently extend into Cambridge from route 2. The 8 lane part is only just after the exits for Belmont and I believe begins to shed lanes after the exit to Route 128. I noticed that the Fresh Pond Parkway bridge over the Commuter Rail is about as wide as the gravel laden area of the Commuter Rail tracks below. (that bridge over the tracks has 4 total traffic lanes.) I only mentioned the commuter rail because when you're on top of that bridge and glance towards the shoping centre you can see Boston in the distance. The Commuter rail right-of-way is far more direct-- in terms of heading towards Boston. Traffic continuing on Fresh Pond Parkway are being lead in directions that aren't immediately heading towards Boston. The routes through Cambridge head either south or north (mostly) first, before they head east. I wouldn't recommend this road for 18 wheeler trucks but for small vehicle traffic it could work. CaribDigita 00:06, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

The Inner Belt was to cross the Charles at the BU Bridge. The ramps you are talking about were built ca. 1965 to replace a configuration that had weaving between the ramps to and from westbound Storrow and provide an overpass over Beacon Street and Comm Ave. Remember that US 1 used to use Charlesgate and Storrow. --SPUI (T - C) 07:47, 4 July 2006 (UTC)

Excellent thank you, I finally remember where I had seen it I stopped by the MIT coop and found a book on the history of the Charles River. I glanced through it and I think---- I somehow thought the blueprints being shown of the BU Bridge were of the Kenmore area. I didn't take a long look at it, it was something I was flipping through and didn't really analyze deeply in terms of what I was looking at. Thanks for clearifying all of that for me though. The image it showed- I later saw thru one of the links here as one of the renditions of the BU Bridge plans. CaribDigita 00:13, 5 July 2006 (UTC)