Boston Central Artery/Tunnel Project (Big Dig)

[blahdy 21]

Okay, last update for this long weekend:

We now have our first touch down!  Northbound lanes have finally connected to the SC4 Elevated HW terminus!

And... moments later...

We now have final touch-down: Southbound lanes have connected to the SC4 El. HW terminus.  This marks substantial completion of the super-structure for the entire bridge model.  Completion status as of now is 60% done.

Panaromic view of the bridge at its 60% completion state:

[hamsterTK 93]

These panarama shots might be handy for cj's later hehe.... better save them and spruce them up

[subedei 3]

Looks great so far. Can hardly wait for this to be released. Keep up the great work.

Subedei

[WeirdOne 0]

Hello blahdy,

Thanks for the reply. I completely understand now. Now, I will admit to *having COMPLETELY NO UNDERSTANDING* of the way the program works that you're modeling this with, but based on the little knowledge I do have from my mother's graphic work, I was wondering, would it be possible to place a "mirror" effect at the centerline and thereby have a replica of the "underground" entrance on both sides (symetrical replication of some kind?)resulting in two end models (one of the elevated, one of the sunken). Now, I just want to make it clear that I'm not trying to push any ideas into *your* pack, I'm just attempting to figure out what kind of feasibility there is based upon the program you're working with. I don't actually expect the suggestions I'm proposing to be taken too seriously.

Once again, I'm just enthralled with the work you've put into it and it's an extremely amazing project.

And finally, one question that's probably again a bit early to ask, will the onramp from the main highway onto the little side portion be working or just eye-candy?

Thanks! And excellent work!

[simzebu 20]

I feel like I was just catapulted 139 miles East, and slightly South! (I live in Albany)

GREAT job.

[zakuten 8]

I used to live in the North End, and trust me, it's not so ghetto as it looks from that picture. If it gets all rebuilt and yuppified, that'll be a shame to lose it for Boston.

Edit: Don't take that wrong, I think this is an awesome project, just it kinda hit a stray nerve there.

[blahdy 21]

Originally posted by: WeirdOne Hello blahdy,

Thanks for the reply. I completely understand now. Now, I will admit to *having COMPLETELY NO UNDERSTANDING* of the way the program works that you're modeling this with, but based on the little knowledge I do have from my mother's graphic work, I was wondering, would it be possible to place a "mirror" effect at the centerline and thereby have a replica of the "underground" entrance on both sides (symetrical replication of some kind?)resulting in two end models (one of the elevated, one of the sunken). Now, I just want to make it clear that I'm not trying to push any ideas into *your* pack, I'm just attempting to figure out what kind of feasibility there is based upon the program you're working with. I don't actually expect the suggestions I'm proposing to be taken too seriously.

Once again, I'm just enthralled with the work you've put into it and it's an extremely amazing project.

And finally, one question that's probably again a bit early to ask, will the onramp from the main highway onto the little side portion be working or just eye-candy?

Thanks! And excellent work!quote>

Yea I forgot to answer your question... I'm using gmax, as most people do, since it's free software.

To answer your questions, unless we run into some serious problems during the modding process, I expect to have all on/off-ramps and "subway converter" lots to function properly and pass traffic, so it doesn't sit there like an eye candy.  So yes, the current plan is to make the entire thing functional.

Regarding the mirror effect, may be... But I am thinking probably BATting a separate bridge modelled after one of those new ones they are building down in South Carolina would be more appropriate for Elevated-to-Elevated / Ground-to-Ground connections..

[bfairin 1]

blahdy this is some of the best batting work I've seen. I'm really impressed. I had one suggestion though for the elevated highway transition. At the point where the southbound lanes widen up from three lanes to three lanes+HOV lane, instead of transitioning the way you are now, I thought it would be more useful in the game if you had an on ramp which came up to join the bridge at that point to add the lane. I thought something as simple as the One-Way to Elevated Highway straight ramp that is offered in the current NAM. With the exits going to the Charlestown exit we would have a way for traffic to go the one way but not to connect the other. With a One-Way on ramp we could use the Maxis one way road to cross under the elevated highway that starts there to give traffic a way to return. Thanks for the consideration. Great job!

[blahdy 21]

Originally posted by: bfairin blahdy this is some of the best batting work I've seen. I'm really impressed. I had one suggestion though for the elevated highway transition. At the point where the southbound lanes widen up from three lanes to three lanes+HOV lane, instead of transitioning the way you are now, I thought it would be more useful in the game if you had an on ramp which came up to join the bridge at that point to add the lane. I thought something as simple as the One-Way to Elevated Highway straight ramp that is offered in the current NAM. With the exits going to the Charlestown exit we would have a way for traffic to go the one way but not to connect the other. With a One-Way on ramp we could use the Maxis one way road to cross under the elevated highway that starts there to give traffic a way to return. Thanks for the consideration. Great job!quote>

Yea, this was actually thought about in Scheme B, which eventually got shot down for being too much work under too little time.  The modding aspect and testing of this will take a long time, as I don't know how to mod at all, and those who volunteered to mod have already told me that this will take a little while to get modified and tested, so I'm under hard deadline to get the models prepared soon.

Thankfully though there is technically an on-ramp for southbound, the Leverrett Connector on-ramp which you can bring traffic into it, and failing that, you can always put an one-way on-ramp on the Maxis elevated HW as it approaches the bridge.    I know it sucks, but I don't think it will look too horribly under current configuration   Thanks a lot for your comment though!

[blahdy 21]

Okay, the main highway is now fully completed!  We can now start "drawing" things on this empty road way (putting up signs, light poles, etc all the nifty stuff).

The Charlestown exit off-ramp is about half way done though.

This looks gorgeous!  Notice how nice and smoothly the entire Zakim bridge interfaces with the Maxis's elevated HW via-duct:

hamstertk: i'll be sure to take more panaromic shots as the bridge nears completion

[blahdy 21]

And... low quality preview of the current work:

[kaji 0]

wow amazing work yet again blahdy.. thats all i can say... although i do have a quick question. where did you get the ingame el highway piece from, which youve used in the bat? 

keep up the great work!

~kaji

[blahdy 21]

Originally posted by: kaji wow amazing work yet again blahdy.. thats all i can say... although i do have a quick question. where did you get the ingame el highway piece from, which youve used in the bat? 

keep up the great work!

~kajiquote>

thanks dude   Ardecila provided the gmax models for both Maxis ground & elevated highway segments.

[blahdy 21]

And west side view.. apparently some texture corrections are required..

[Ghost-Nemesis 0]

Hi,

it looks very good. We have for the same idea a disscusion at PEG some months ago. The main problem for "underground highways" are to create a real traffic. My main idea was to use bats like DEDWD's RaisedPark to creat underground highways and give the possibility to built buildings up there. http://www.jphayden.com/pegprod/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1731&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=underground&start=0

The connections for the underground in Post 295 look very good too. We have at sim city a tunnelssystem so is it possible to bring them together? On booht sides we use the undergroundpart from Post 295 in the middle we use the sim city tunnelsystem. The pices can have fix fields like 4, 6 or 8 incl. the connectors to put them together to a functioning underground highway system. We need too pices for circle and crossings possible by using bats like Post 295.

[blahdy 21]

Originally posted by: Ghost-Nemesis Hi,

it looks very good. We have for the same idea a disscusion at PEG some months ago. The main problem for "underground highways" are to create a real traffic. My main idea was to use bats like DEDWD's RaisedPark to creat underground highways and give the possibility to built buildings up there. http://www.jphayden.com/pegprod/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1731&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=underground&start=0

The connections for the underground in Post 295 look very good too. We have at sim city a tunnelssystem so is it possible to bring them together? On booht sides we use the undergroundpart from Post 295 in the middle we use the sim city tunnelsystem. The pices can have fix fields like 4, 6 or 8 incl. the connectors to put them together to a functioning underground highway system. We need too pices for circle and crossings possible by using bats like Post 295.quote>

Thanks;  The way we are doing this is through NDEX/DuskTrooper's idea in their Freeway Transition project thread:  We convert the highway traffic to subway and let the user drag subway circuits between the terminus in any shape/curve/form he wants.  As long as you do not overlap the underground highway's "subway" with an actual mass transit subway, you shouldn't have any problems.

This has pros and cons.  The pros is that you can easily run underground highway systems with curves and in tight spaces without having to deal with Maxis tunnels that require good portion of your city to be bulldozed to get it done right.  And you can also add on/off ramps in many locations without having to have the underground highway come out of the tunnel, just like the way it is in Boston's new underground highway network.

The cons aspect of this approach is that trucks and UDI do not work.  But trucks not working is actually a fine trade-off, because in real world, hazmats are prohibited in underground tunnel systems, and trucks are often not going thru the city centers.

[blahdy 21]

Okay, off-ramp is done. 

As of now, the bridge's entire structure is fully completed, a huge milestone.  What's left to do that will further take significant time is things like installing light poles, signs, all those little details..

[subedei 3]

Looking great as always. Keep up the great work.

Subedei

[Bobbo662 23]

Excellent work!

[tag_one 133]

wonderfull, really wonderfull

[simzebu 20]

Holy ShBLEEP! That is amazing!

EDIT: Found a good smiley for the occasion:

 

[hamsterTK 93]

whats that ramp down gonna connect too? a road?

[DJGspinNhitz 7]

I am amazed at the progress speed, detail, and size of this project. I need to clean my keyboard up now...drooled

GQ

[Frankie_Grove 32]

The Boston Big Dig was the highway reconstruction in Boston right? I believe I saw something about it on the History Channel, Anyway, I like that bridge (cable-stayed right?) Looks more realistic than the in-game briges of that type.

[Frankie_Grove 32]

Nice, like those signs, to bad you don't spend this much time on other cities too

[simzebu 20]

GAAAA! Use the Edit button! If you don't, evil bunnies will be deployed from the Simtropolis Hedaquarters and will come to your house and eat your head off!

 

They're comeing already!

hamsterTK: I think it'll probably be oneway. Did I remember seeing that, or am I just crazy. Probably both.

[StanislausBabalistic 24]

This is so good I can barely keep it PG. Seriously, it's absolutely amazing what you've managed to accomplish. It looks almost exactly like the real thing! Not to distract you from the fantastic work, either, but...what's next?

[bewilder2 2]

Wow. Just wow.

[freedo50 1]

vcjolsutghcicsx,gaihba.....

arg keyboard malfunction from all the drool

seriously though blahdy, this is some amazing work!

btw after you have finished this project, are you going to start on Walnut Creek again, that was like my favourite CJ ever!

[blahdy 21]

Thank you all for your kind comments as usual

Let me answer some of the questions raised here.

hamster_tk: One-way road.

Frankie_Grove:  Yes, the official name is Central Artery/Tunnel project (CA/T) and it's the highway reconstruction project in Boston.  It's now 99% completed as of now, and is the largest civil engineering feat ever taken in history of US (according to Federal Highway Administration), with more complex engineering than that of Hoover Dam.

Grahamdubya:  Probably the vent buildings for the tunnel system   You can't call it big dig without them.

freedo50:  Yes, the airport thread will be revived soon.  What's actually happening is, because the Pakkusena airport project is so huge even in real-life constraints, the project will be finished in a joint venture manner, where kaji and I will be BATting remaining components required to finish the Phase I construction.  But yea, that CJ is definitely not dead, just put on the back burner for a bit

And two update pics:

Sign posts and light poles going up near elevated transition area:

The Charlestown exit off-ramp failed "Quality Assurance Review" (lol..) for failure to have a smooth descent angle.  So it is now rebuilt, and looks much more realistic now, as it descends from elevated position to the ground in a very smooth angle: