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Stop moving our holidays back, dammit!

By adamg on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 4:02pm
Almost stuck truck

It's bad enough when stores put Halloween candy out in July. Do we really need to start worrying about Allston Christmas in August? Too damn early, as Nikki illustrates with this photo of a rental truck whose driver was forced to back up around 12:45 p.m. on Storrow Drive today, when he realized he was never going to fit into that teeny little tunnel.

Neighborhoods: 
Back Bay
Topics: 
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Free tagging: 
Storrow Drive
Storrowed


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Comments

By datadyne007 on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 4:29pm.

Maybe they could have accelerated the Storrow tunnel replacement project. The whole thing probably would have collapsed had the truck hit it (which I would hope everyone survived the collapse). If anyone hasn't heard, it was just rated the worst bridge in the country.

By Jeff F on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 7:57pm.

[Storrow tunnel] was just rated the worst bridge <sic> in the country.

I went looking for a link to support that statement, and found...nothing. Ref please?

In fact, in this study by Transportation for America (according to Time magazine "the latest of it's kind"), Massachusetts falls dead center in 25th place for structurally deficient bridges. In fact, the only MA bridge that pops up on any of the lists of "worst heavily used bridges" that I could find was the Cape Cod bridge over route 28 (Source: 2006 National Bridge Inventory, Federal Highway Administration).

By Allstonian on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 8:19pm.

This article has been widely reported in the past week or so.

By Jeff F on Sun, 08/11/2013 - 12:26am.

I went through the report that article linked to. Not only has Massachusetts' overall ranking improved since the 2011 report (from 25th to 28th with number 1 = worst), but there is nothing in the additional report data (see interactive map and raw Fed data) to support that article's contention that the Storrow Drive bridge is among the worst/most dangerous bridges in the country.

I guess English Lit majors writing for random tourist industry magazines are not go-to folks for statisitcal math. Quel suprisé!

By anon on Sun, 08/11/2013 - 2:23am.

Quel suprisé!

And I guess self-proclaimed smartasses writing comments for a local blog are not go-to standard bearers of the French language.

Quelle surprise!

By anon on Sun, 08/11/2013 - 2:14pm.

foreign language spelling mistake by a commentor on a local-affairs internet forum is just as regrettable as a inaccurate account of danger to the public published in a national magazine/web site and repeated by multiple news media.

By cybah on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 4:37pm.

how these trucks can miss the 'CARS ONLY' signs strategically raised to a level where it would make a loud bang when going under it. Enough for someone to notice.

By fenwayguy on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 5:00pm.

but it doesn't say NO TRUCKS so it doesn't apply to me!

By Typical college kid driving a ... on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 5:40pm.

Sorry I can't hear the noise over my iPhone earbuds and I'm kinda too busy texting to read signs.

Boston DESPERATELY NEEDS TO PUT UP SACRIFICIAL BEAMS at all entrances to the river drives to prevent this crap from happening in the worst places possible. If a truck whacks a beam right at the entrance ramp it is much easier to tow out of the way. It would save millions in bridge/tunnel repair costs in the long run as well!

By anon on Sun, 08/11/2013 - 10:53am.

Maybe you need to get the hell off of your iPhone, knock off the texting while driving, and start reading the damned signs! That, more than anything, will prevent this crap from happening, and to save millions in bridge/tunnel repair costs on the long run!

By Chris Jones on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 5:49pm.

Every time I or someone I know has rented a truck near Boston or planning to drop it off in Boston, the rental agreement has a paragraph you have to initial saying you can't go on either river road and if you do you're liable for damages, not any insurance.

By Brian Riccio on Sat, 08/10/2013 - 7:22pm.

sign at the Budget Rent A Car office that says "Do not bring our trucks on Storrow Drive, your LDW does not cover damages to trucks on Memorial or Storrow Drives"

By Suldog on Sun, 08/11/2013 - 7:56am.

Which would cost less: Raising the bridge or lowering the roadway bed of the tunnel? How about time? I would suspect digging out a lowered roadbed would be more efficient, but that's just my guess. Perhaps too many utility lines, etc.?

Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com

By anon on Sun, 08/11/2013 - 9:20am.

Read the Travel and Leisure article above, scheduled to be replaced in 2018. Takes time and money. As for digging it is below the water line, it adds to the complications. http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/americas-...