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Exploding manholes cause more problems in Back Bay

By adamg on Thu, 03/15/2012 - 4:07pm

At least three manholes along Huntington Ave. exploded this afternoon, sending literal shudders through the nearby 101 Huntington, which has lapsed in and out of electrical service today.

At 3:46, Bonnie O. tweeted:

Why did we just hear and feel an explosion outside from inside 101 Huntington? Fire trucks outside near Marriott.

At NStar's request, Boston firefighters flooded one of the manholes with water. Traffic around the Pru, of course, immediately became a mess - police shut down Huntington and deployed fresh officers to the area to block off roads and try to divert drivers elsewhere.

Neighborhoods: 
Back Bay
Free tagging: 
NStar
Exploding manholes
2012 blackout


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Comments

By Huge Feminist on Thu, 03/15/2012 - 4:26pm.

What next? Locusts?

By anon on Thu, 03/15/2012 - 4:36pm.

I'm confident Adam will deliver soon enough.

By Lecil on Thu, 03/15/2012 - 7:11pm.

The computers in my office had pretty much just come up when the explosions started. Sent me into a frenzy to try and get as much done before the power could fail again! The smell was terrible. I think I can still tastes burning electrical cable.

By eeka on Thu, 03/15/2012 - 7:52pm.

the penis-shaped building?

By Lecil on Thu, 03/15/2012 - 8:07pm.

I call it the colander building.
I've heard it called the crown building, or the baby bottle.
But yes, I can see how someone might accuse it of being somewhat phallic. :)

By adamg on Thu, 03/15/2012 - 8:13pm.

It's the Ban Roll-On Building or the R2D2 Building, please!

Bonus fun fact: The top was Tom Menino's idea. Really. He insisted the developers come up with something other than a flat roof.

By anon on Thu, 03/15/2012 - 9:11pm.

I've heard it described as "the birthday cake building", oddly enough. It doesn't really resemble a birthday cake. And once when I was on the red line, some tourists saw it from the window of the train and were sure it was the State House.

By anon on Thu, 03/15/2012 - 10:02pm.

When it was constructed, the top was criticized for resembling the ruined skeletal building in Hiroshima after the A-bomb attack. The architect vehemently denied any reference to that image.

By Lecil on Fri, 03/16/2012 - 9:44am.

But that's not the building's fault. Air is terrible down here. Wondering where I can get myself some supplimental oxygen...

But I've never heard the Ban Roll-On Building moniker before. Thanks for adding to my list, Adam. :)

By bLUTO on Thu, 03/15/2012 - 8:56pm.

At least these manhole covers aren't sauteing dogs like they used to.

By anon on Thu, 03/15/2012 - 11:59pm.

...I hate it when that happens.

By jchristian on Fri, 03/16/2012 - 11:06am.

- intersection of Elliot St & Rte 9. Followed by days of National Grid truck, worker presence, etc.