Central Artery

The Central Artery was a major highway running through downtown Boston, designed to carry a large volume of traffic. It was a crucial part of the city's transportation network but contributed to congestion, pollution, and urban blight by dividing neighborhoods and limiting urban development. In the early 2000s, the highway was largely dismantled and replaced by the Massachusetts Turnpike and the Big Dig—a massive construction project that tunneled the highway underground. This transformed the downtown area, improved traffic flow, and revitalized urban spaces, making the city more accessible and aesthetically appealing.