Boston's Central Artery

Fifty years ago, the Central Artery snaked its way through Boston, destroying century-old neighborhoods and bustling commercial districts in the very heart of the city. Designed to open Boston's downtown to convenient car and truck access, the highway cut a two-mile-long gash through the nation's oldest and most historic city, destroying or casting a shadow over some of its most architecturally significant buildings. By the time the Central Artery was completed in 1959, many former supporters had already realized that it was a colossal mistake. Drawing on recently uncovered Massachusetts Department of Public Works archives and numerous other sources, Boston's Central Artery tells the story of the highway's construction and of the neighborhoods that it destroyed. The book is a vivid document of an era when roadways tore through the nation's downtown centers and displaced thousands of residents and businesses along the way. Written by an enginer-historian, Boston's Central Artery will appeal to not only those fascinated by the history of Boston but also those interested in urban history, architecture, and construction.