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As if the Longfellow Bridge didn't have enough problems already
By Ron Newman on Tue, 06/10/2008 - 12:29pm
An over-height truck crashed into the bridge, spilling its load all over Storrow Drive. Juldea was all shook up while walking on the bridge, but had the presence of mind to take some photos.
Follow-up, 6/12/08: Truck belonged to a moving company that was supposed to move a Beacon Hill resident's belongings to California.
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Comments
Key question
Was the driver Canadian - or a college student on the way home?
Best Herald headline in recent memory...
"Canadian Lumber Jerk!"
Nice photos, but...
...this also gives me an opportunity to rant about the current state of affairs on the Longfellow Bridge. The current upstream-side sidewalk closure is really just an accident (and/or fatality) waiting to happen. Pedestrians are largely ignoring the orange-net barriers and walking on the sidewalk OR they're just walking on the roadway in the bicycle lane (as was the case with the person who took the photos).
We could probably take bets as to which will happen first:
--Portion of crumbling sidewalk actually collapses, taking a scofflaw with it.
OR
--Pedestrian walking in the road gets hit by a car. (Alternate version: Bicyclist avoiding a pedestrian in bike lane gets hit by a car.)
I understand that it's a pain in the a** (and slightly treacherous) to cross over to the downstream sidewalk--which is still open to pedestrians--but it's certainly better than endangering your life (or the lives of others) by walking in the roadway.
The state should close one eastbound lane
and put up orange cones separating it from the remaining traffic lane which remains open. That would provide plenty of room for bicyclists and pedestrians going in both directions.
Exactly, thats what they did
Exactly, thats what they did with the mass ave bridge. But once again, cars are getting preference over pedestrians and bicycles. I really dont get it. The bridge is in trouble, so they make trains go at 5mph, and dont allow people....but speeding cars and trucks are fine?
The problem with closing one lane...
...is that large trucks (and buses?) are still banned from using the left lane of the bridge. This is the lane that would be dedicated to cars/trucks if one lane were to be closed to traffic.
Also, trains are going at 5 MPH not because of bridge deficiencies, but due to deteriorating TRACKS. The tracks will be fixed this month (on weekends), so trains will (theoretically) resume normal speeds in the next few weeks.
Mass Ave Bridge 1984
No trucks
No Busses
Left lanes: cars only
Right lanes: defacto bike lanes
The #1 Bus was rerouted to the BU Bridge via Kenmore and Vassar St. Cambridge
If this worked for years when the Mass Ave Bridge was a mess, then why shouldn't it also work for the Longfellow? Do any MBTA busses cross the Longfellow anyway? There is also weigh-in-motion technology available now for enforcement.
T buses need to use the Longfellow
when they are substituting for Red Line train service, as they will be the next two weekends.
Another idea: put cars in the RIGHT lane, and pedestrians/bicycles in a closed-off LEFT lane. This lane actually leads to a small sidewalk as you approach Charles Circle.
What I don't get is why full
What I don't get is why full and mid-size SUVs, whose drivers are typically adamant that theirs is not a car but a truck, get accepted as cars when its convenient or economical? Why aren't they charged a higher toll on the pike and the tobin? They disproportionately wear the pavement, hog view corridors and create the need for more space between vehicles (in every direction).
Further why are we not more vocal and admonishing of our governments that have allowed our public infrastructure to rot? Why does this 100 year old bridge look like it has been bombed when 300 year old bridges of former soviet states look new by comparison? Why are we so ready to reward Menino with a new waterfront palace because his current one is crumbling under his own hand?
Don't get?
So maybe you get this:
Every parkway in Boston has signs saying no trucks over 5000 pounds.
Trucks over 5000 pounds GVW:
-Chevy Suburban and Tahoe
-Range Rover
-GMC Yukon
-Toyota Land Cruiser and Sequoia
-Lincoln Navigator
-Mercedes M Class
-Porsche Cayenne S
-BMW X5
-Dodge Ram 1500
-Hummer
So why does nobody ever get pulled over for driving one of these cars on the VFW, Hammond Pond, or J-Way (where, face it, they don't fit in the lane)?
I Have Nothing Significant To Add
But, do I ever?
I just want to say that I'd love nothing more than for those gas-guzzling, view-blocking, lane-hogging monstrosities to be ticketed according to the laws on the books, as well as tolled in relation to their wear on the roads. Couldn't agree more.
Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com
Heh Heh Heh
You said "spilled its load."
yesterday too
a rental moving truck had to back up on storrow drive...2 days in a row. sheeesh.
It's always Labor Day
It's always Labor Day weekend on Storrow Drive.
this happened yesterday too
a rental moving truck had to back up on storrow drive. sheesh