Boston Central Artery/Tunnel Project (Big Dig)

[Andreas Roth 629]

Well, I'm certainly aware what you're aiming at - it's just that this will be a very special BAT, IMHO probably useful for only a handful cities, thus being a "waste of time". But I see this project is coming from heart, so please go ahead creating a most detailed rendition of the whole "Boston Big Dig".

[blahdy 21]

Originally posted by: Andreas Roth Well, I'm certainly aware what you're aiming at - it's just that this will be a very special BAT, IMHO probably useful for only a handful cities, thus being a "waste of time". But I see this project is coming from heart, so please go ahead creating a most detailed rendition of the whole "Boston Big Dig". quote>

sure, no prob

I'm not against your idea at all btw; I just think a bridge that would probably and realistically fit the right application is the best way to do it -- i.e. model after longer bridges for adding to Maxis bridge-set =)

[SHADD0W09 2]

just a questin how are you goin to conect them together or is it just eye candy

[blahdy 21]

Cabling up the south tower... The one near the TD Banknorth Garden. 

Current model completion status: 10%

canuck3360: Thanks! Yes, to the right of the bridge is the TD Bank North Garden building, formerly Fleet Center.

SADDOW09:  It will function as a converter lot which will convert elevated highway traffic into subway.  See NDEX Freeway Transition Project thread under NDEX BAT forum.

[simzebu 20]

The tunnel transitions use subways to make a functional connection. You won't be able to use these for freight or UDI. EDIT: Blahdy beat me to it.

Just a question: I thought I saw an estimated release date, but I can't seem to find it. Or am I crazy and it was never posted? Either way, can you tell us about how long it will be?

[blahdy 21]

simzebu: Current ETA is July 22, 06 but subject to change. This model you are seeing is the last model to go into 1.0 release. Later models will be done through subsequent update releases/add-on packs.

I agree, it's a little hard to find the ETA. I'll add the ETA date to my signature from now on for ease

[bixel 1,228]

ZOMG!!! I just love new transportation choices and yours are top-notch modeled! Incredible!

[blahdy 21]

lol, glad to hear you like it

Okay, superstructure work in the south tower span is nearly completed.  Getting prepared to start paving the way for north tower span area.  But before we do that, let's take an awesome looking picture:

The dark diamond looking holes you see in the picture below are light holes.  The holes are made so that alewife and fishes under the water will not lose navigation due to lack of lighting.  (environmentally friendly)

[lrfox 2]

The Zakim bridge?! wow looks incredible.... drove over it today in the pouring rain. you've even got the HOV lane there. i am shocked. although as i said a while back, on a sunny day, i hate that tunnel transition. this looks great, can't wait to see how it works.

[blahdy 21]

hehe yup, it's coming out pretty good... except gmax is screaming bloody murder and just about to blow up now... (so frigging slow with enough details already)

[Ryan B 35]

Just a question - will the tunnel-to-elevated highway transition be available without the Zakim bridge for those who don't need a water crossing?

Great work on that, by the way.

[blahdy 21]

Originally posted by: ryanb_sc4 Just a question - will the tunnel-to-elevated highway transition be available without the Zakim bridge for those who don't need a water crossing?

Great work on that, by the way. quote>

Yes, but not on version 1.0.  It will come out as an add-on package after the 1.0 release.

[Micah 16]

OMG! It looks so realistic even though its not done! Your skills are incredible. It's like you're building the real thing!

[blahdy 21]

hehe..

Okay, more pics..  North Tower starting to take shape.

The bridge superstructure is still far from over, it still has many areas where it makes the whole bridge look too grid-like or otherwise not naturally smooth.  These elements will be corrected as modelling progresses forward.

[sloppet 3]

This is just Crushing! blahdy, you are one of the greatest here!

[simzebu 20]

WOW! OH MY GOD! THAT IS AMAZING!

[poops2u 2]

WOW! Amazing!

I like how the bridge is curved upward toward the middle, like an actual suspension bridge!

-P2U

[lrfox 2]

Unbelievable recreation... it is great. looking at the pictures just gives me images of coming off of the lower deck and getting onto the bridge before plunging into the tunnel. random trivia: the tops of the bridge towers are designed in likeness to the Bunker Hill monument in Charlston which is visible from the bridge. but yeah, keep it coming it looks perfect.

stupid question maybe: you said earlier that the bridge would require water to pass under it in order to be plopped. that's perfect, but will ferries and ships be able to pass under it (maybe mentioned this and i missed it, if so, sorry)? you see it with the default seaports, ships get too close and disappear. I guess the only question i have is, will it disrupt ferry routes? (not that it will take away from this piece at all). thanks, and keep it coming.

[mightygoose 92]

are the two towers gonna be two separate lots so like we can have it as an elevated to subways rather than subway to elevated to subway.

[lrfox 2]

Alright... i could be wrong, and if i am, someone (Blahdy) please correct me, but in real life, the tunnel transition is only at one end of the bridge, the other end continues on for a while as elevated highway (the dinosaur that locals call the upper and lower deck). So if i am right to assume that you (mightygoose) are thinking that there are going to be tunnels on either end, i would have to say that's not the case (unless Blahdy is going to throw us a curveball). I think you want Elevated highway at one end and tunnel transition (subway) at the other, and in real life, that's how it is. Seeing as how Blahdy has paid major attention to detail, i can only assume that's how it will be when completed. Hopefully that helped and if i am way off, just correct me.

*Edit* I think the final product will be an Elevated Highway to Bridge to Tunnel Transition.  Unless the creator decides to just make it elevated highway so that the users can connect highway and and tunnels at their own discretion.

[blahdy 21]

Hi all, thanks for the comments

lrfox, mightygoose:  Yea, lrfox is correct, it will be underground to elevated HW.  The only problem here though is that on Cambridge (north side) side of the bridge, in real life, it goes into a double-decker elevated highway via-duct, because thats how I-93 used to cross the Charles river in the old days with that old fugly looking green monster bridge they built in the 50's.  (Good news, they demolished that green crap looking bridge now)  But for Sim City purposes, I'm going to have to go renegade from realism on this one and not do the double decker on North Side.. I'll just have it transition into regular Maxis elevated highway piece, with an off-ramp to trim down the excess lanes (since the bridge has total of 10 lanes, instead of 6 Maxis uses).

There will also be an additional tunnel portal in South side, an on-ramp from Leverret Circle/Storrow drive, that will merge into the main highway entrance tunnel.

As far as ferry-routes, I honestly don't know if it will work, and can't tell you on that at this time... In fact, I don't think the ferries can actually go through the Zakim bridge area, because of so little space due to Science Museum, etc sitting right on the river on the little dam they created.

As Andreas Roth pointed out, this piece that I'm working on is more or less a landmark for those who live in or like Boston than anything else... It's not very useful for a lot of cities, but surely is useful for those who want to make a city that's a little bit close to Boston with small canal or small river in the middle...

EDIT: It is more or less a landmark, but a functional lot -- it will actually pass traffic to convert underground to elevated.

[mightygoose 92]

so i could use two of them to have an elevated highway underpass yes???

[blahdy 21]

Originally posted by: mightygoose so i could use two of them to have an elevated highway underpass yes???quote>

No it won't work that way.  The bridge span's height and length are different as they move toward the center, that if you put one tower twice and reverse the other one to create a bridge, it will look weird.

The whole thing will function as a single lot which converts elevated traffic to underground and vice versa while crossing a small channel/river.  Just like the way it is in real life.

[lrfox 2]

yeah ferries don't pass through there, in fact, there's sort of a locke system and dam right next to the museum of science. i am pretty sure that it's only private boats, harbor patrols and maybe some commercial fishing that really enter into the charles river basin. I was just curious as to the actual functionality of it. the closest ferry station (actually they're mostly water taxis) leave from the docks in front of the boston harbor hotel. so if ferries or ships couldn't pass under it, it wouldn't take away from realism at all.

but it still looks awesome, keep it up.

[mightygoose 92]

oh so id have to combine it with your standard subway to hghway convertor and then just bump up to elevated again

[GMT 389]

*stunned*

[JBSimio 152]

Holy Crap!!!!  I think I only missed one day, but now you're making the bridge too?!?!  Don't you ever stop?  That is amazing!  I would bow to you, except that it's against my religion!

JB

[blahdy 21]

hehe, thanks all for kind comments

New updates:

Continuing cabling work at the South Tower.

Now, the towers you currently saw so far, are believe it or not, going to be included in the final model.  They are "pre-scatch models", where there was no attention to details/realism paid.  The purpose of the pre-scatch model is to create something at the beginning that will be used as a reference to guide the cables and other bridge components.  The current towers look like this:

Now the final towers that will replace the pre-scatch models, and will be part of the final model will look like this:

Definitely looking realistic with sufficient attention to detail paid.

And... night-lighting the tower.  See the encircled area.  These two colored lighting systems provide beautiful night lights at night time.

Capping the tower also with red blinking light for planes, etc:

[blahdy 21]

And the new South Tower is now installed.  Looking more realistic by the update.  North Tower will follow suite after cabling work in southern side is completed and bridge span at north side is readjusted.

[lrfox 2]

wow.. i noticed you added the middle cable (the one inside) too. do you sleep? or are you some sort of machine?