The Jamaica Plain Gazette reports plans to replace the concrete-dropping Casey Overpass are on hold because the Massachusetts Historical Commission is raising questions about Massachusetts Department of Transportation plans to significantly alter what turns out to be the rather historic rotary on the decrepit overpass's southern end.
If by "moors," you mean a path at the Arnold Arboretum this morning, that is, as Adam Shutes illustrates.
Nearby, at the Forest Hills commuter-rail stop, Chris reports visibility was down to 20 feet:
Around 4:30 p.m. Power on the Orange Line was briefly shut off to let firefighters get the person out without worrying about the third rail.
The Jamaica Plain Gazette interviews a local artist who has done a series of oil paintings of the crumbling Casey Overpass, slated to be torn down next spring.
McCabe paints from photographs, as "standing in traffic would be suicidal," he said. He adapted his painting technique to reflect the decay of the structure and "achieve a more tactile surface much like the paint and rust of the bridge itself."
McCabe said his intent is to draw attention to "what is often overlooked" and the rapid pace of change in Boston.
A Roslindale resident reports on an incident involving his wife and a guy in a car around 3 p.m. yesterday:
My wife was riding her bicycle home and an angry motorist punched her in the face. This happed at Hyde Park Ave and Ukraine. She reported it to the police, including the vehicle plate number, and she is now resting with an ice pack on her lip.
When she stopped at light, he got out of his car, came up from behind and slugged her; she did not see it coming. MA plate # 62MD34, small silver car.
Assailant was passenger in car with woman driver. Hopefully, with the info she provided to the police, they will get catch this coward.
You get a delay! And you get a delay! And you get a delay!
Trains lapsed into unconsciousness on the Red Line and the C, D and E trolley lines. But the Orange Line saved the worst for last: A dead train at Ruggles that sat there for nearly 20 minutes before operators got the idea to get the train behind it to push it out of the way a little after 9 a.m.
Anna Lawless was on the pusher train:
After sitting outside Ruggles for 20 mins, we seem to be pushing the disabled train ahead of us.
Hank Layfield reports Domino's is moving into the old BBQ Town on Washington Street in Roslindale, which means the local franchise will finally be free of the loneliness that is that little strip mall down by the West Roxbury Parkway and well away from those activist types in Roslindale Square who managed to block its planned move into a storefront there.
Around 1 p.m. The MBTA reports:
There was no train in the area. He made no contact with the third rail. Taken to Brigham and Women's to be checked out.
A witness on the platform says he appeared to just pass out and fall down, on the left track:
The Walsh campaign has announced an 11;45 a.m. endorsement at the Moakley Courthouse by state Sen. Therese Murray.
CommonWealth reports that the vast majority of outside money pouring into Boston is pouring into Walsh's coffers:
Transit Police report arresting a Jamaica Plain man for allegedly trying to stick somebody up right in the lobby of the Forest Hills Orange Line stop last night.
According to police, William Ambroult, 40, approached a man in the lobby and showed "what the victim believed to be a handgun and demanded the victim turn over his money."
Police say the victim ran and that Ambroult chased him briefly before giving up and going down to the lower busway - where arriving officers found him.
Police say they did not find a weapon.
Casey all patched up. Photo by MassDOT.
Weekend road repair atop the crumbling Casey Overpass went so well the elevated road won't need to be shut for further repairs, the state Department of Transportation says. According to MassDOT spokesman Michael Verseckes:
The work on Saturday made full repairs to 15 spans and partial repairs to five more.
The overpass, slated to be torn down and replaced with surface roads, has 40 spans, he said. He added:
MassDOT plans to shut the Casey Overpass on Oct. 5 and 6 for emergency repairs to the road surface "to ensure the bridge can remain open during snow and ice events."
And that's just the start. The state says some 17 sections of the overpass, which is slated to be completely be torn down, need repair, and that it will have to be shut for three more weekends as well. Also:
During the closures, MassDOT is intending to remove the existing driving surface with jackhammers. As a result, there will be noise associated with this work. The end result will be an improved riding surface.
Lucy Fitzgerald reports a tree came plummeting down on Hyde Park Avenue just past Walk Hill this evening. She reports she got to see it up close, because she walked home from Forest Hills, rather than jump on a bus that wouldn't be going anywhere. "Eight square blocks of hell today," she concludes.
Meanwhile, Centre Street in JP wasn't doing much better, even around 7 p.m., as Ben Rey shows us:
The remains of one of the vehicles. Photo by AlertNewEngland.
Update, 9:15 p.m.: The Arborway is clear and open again to traffic, State Police report.
Massachusetts State Police report four teenagers and two adults were seriously injured in a crash around 2 p.m. State Police say their initial investigation shows that an SUV carrying the teens "rolled over center line, struck a pickup with two adults in the opposite lane." AlertNewEngland reports two child car seats were found ejected from vehicles, but that no young children were in them at the time.
The Arborway was shut between Centre/the Jamaicaway and the Forest Hills rotary.
Boston Police advise:
Patricia Adams had lived at 306 South St. in Jamaica Plain for 50 years. Yesterday, the house went up in flames.
Friends have set up a fund to help her get back on her feet.
UPDATE, Friday a.m.: An MBTA spokesman reports: "We found no video evidence to support the story you sent us."
UPDATE: Dorchester Reporter News Editor Gintautus Dumcius caught up with Clemons at a candidate forum in Dorchester tonight. He tweets:
He denies it, quite adamantly.
An outraged Orange Line rider reports on an incident around 9 a.m. Friday at Forest Hills involving mayoral candidate Charles Clemons:
Soon to be an Italian restaurant?
Croan McCormack says it wasn't a dispute with his chef, or his own back surgery, or the long-term illness of a family member that shuttered Tonic, across from the Forest Hills T stop. It was, he says, patients from Shattuck Hospital congregating in front of the liquor store two doors down and scaring away his customers.
Apparently, pasta lovers are made of sterner stuff than casual drinkers. McCormack was before the Boston Licensing Board this morning, asking for permission to turn Tonic into an Italian restaurant, either through a deal with a Chicago chain of Italian eateries that's expressed interest in Forest Hills, or through his own efforts.
Ris2000 reports this morning on some exposed rebar on the ol' overpass:
Just came down Morton St. by cemetery and saw 3 cars with flats from the road conditions. Casey overpass plus Morton not fun drive!
Paul Villanova headed to Forest Hills Cemetery tonight for the annual lantern festival.
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