Boston Central Artery/Tunnel Project (Big Dig)

[Haljackey 17,398]

Absolutley awsome stuff. I'm a big fan of this stuff! Just one pointer... you have a pic of a two lane onramp merging into one lane in the entrance, but the sign overhead says "stay in lane". Is this right or is this wrong... just lettin you know. Also what does the

"No HR" sign mean?

[Ryan B 35]

blahdy - Excellent work as always!  Here's something that might interest you:

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/2959/lanereductionmarkingsmf5.png

I was reading the Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices' section entitled Pavement Markings, and I saw a section on lane reduction pavement markings.  I'm not sure if the Big Dig uses them, but I thought you may want to know about them.  The image above shows two examples I drew of these lane markings' uses.

[Cartographer29 13]

The angled arrows are not used by all jurisdtictions. Here in Ontario they are rare, but used in a few cases (The Provincial Ministry has actually used them for the first time that I am aware of on the 401 in Port Hope where a recent highway widenning contract temporarily ends, and arrows in the lane indicate to move over). The City of Toronto uses them on sme sections of there freeway network, but only for indicating interchange lane allocations (and only using standard-sized lane arrows), like 'right-turn only' and 'thru and right-turn only'. One of the few things Toronto does that I actually like.

I know here in Canada, our standard is that the edgelines (when existant) become double-width white lines throughout the whole "land ending area" (which usually includes the taper plus about 100-200m in advance). The other thing we use (as with some U.S. jurisdictions) is a change in line dashes in the merge area. The Ontario ones though, are double-thick as with the edge lines, and are repeated shorter than the standard lane seperater markings.

Here is a link showing the variations: 

http://www.onthighways.com/QEW_images/QEW_cl_27_FEB.jpg

(This is on the QEW in Niagara Falls. Note on the right-hand side the diffrences in the line hatching, and the thicker edge line (although its not that apparant).

- Josh

[Ryan B 35]

I didn't mean to start a debate - I was just using an example, that's all.

[tommiej 0]

Blahdy, you have to much time, this is awesome, amazing the best batting work ever!!

[warrior 169]

Is the main big dig portal in the 1st release seemed to slightly higher than the groungd highway is this meant to be?

I'm not critsicing your workat all Blahdy

Sorry if this has been mentioned before

[jj88 24]

Awesome work Bladhy! This most detailed sc4 project i have ever seen! I wasn't expecting you to include fire escapes!

[ICFan 0]

In Trig Class for Great work we use the Term: BW!!!!!! So here I use BW!!!!!!!

[sorchin 18]

Hey Blahdy:

I'm curious to see how much of this detail your making (which is fabulous BTW) will actually show up in-game. If it all shows up well, this will be one amazing BAT. It's going to be lovely regardless, but I am curious nonetheless..

Take care..

[Frankie_Grove 32]

Perfect as always!

[+Guest]

Wow this keeps getting better and better.Thanx for the update.

[blahdy 21]

no update so far (been busy )

but i took a picture using my cell phone when entering Leverett Connector/CANA tunnel, just to show & let you compare how pretty realistic the short-straight on-ramp model being worked on above is

The Leverett Connector/CANA tunnel merges into 1 lane right at the beginning of the tunneled portion (notice the narrowing yellow median lane painting as it approaches tunnel).  As a result, the lane control traffic light/signal for left lane is usually set to RED all times.

[Alfred.Jones 2]

Looking at that and your version, even the smallest detail is used! Looking forward to more Blahdy

[pilotdaryl 25]

Didn't work, Swamper, so I'm doing it now.

It works!

[Sim shady 12]

omg thnxs couldnt figure out what was going on there

[blahdy 21]

yo, swamper77, how's your modding schedule lately?  when you have some time this weekend, i'd like to talk to you for modding the completed 2.0 lots  :-)

okay, i think the straight short-onramp (bigd-t1x-onr1), blue gantry version is done now.   improved the tunnel head area and signage (attention to detail updates).   i'll finish the black gantry version tomorrow or so, and then fix up the curved ramps w/ latest updates.

[Sim shady 12]

Wow this looks great! congrats! im drooling over thinking of when this will be released

btw, i like the highway to road transition.

[Kack 0]

Fantatic details blahdy ! Its amazing

[blahdy 21]

alright,

the black gantry version of the short straight ramp (bigd-t1x-onr1b) is completed.

The two models (blue gantry and black gantry) are now being sent to swamper77 for modding phase work so we can see how they look in-game soon enough

[+Guest]

Looks awesome can't wait to see some game pics.Thanx for the update.

[Sim shady 12]

*slobbering everywhere* dang. that is good.

[xXSim_EdXx 0]

looks great!

[blahdy 21]

Thanks to Swamper77, we will be actually creating an automata of Overheight Vehicle Detection System (OVDS) in action, which is from time to time triggered in real tunnels whenever some overheight truck tries to enter.

How it will animate in-game during automata run: 

Gmax shot:

Individual automata frame shots can be found at: http://216.93.240.36/~blahdy/stex/big-dig-tunnel-portal/overheight/t1x-onr1b.anim-bmps/

[ACEfanatic 7]

omfg.

-ACE

[Ryan B 35]

Whate ACE said. Whoo, boy! Is this going to be an innovation for all your work? Freakin' AWESOME!

[Brenda_Xne 46]

WOW!!!!!!!! ((O_O))

Thank you for also making the road->HW transition textures it makes it blend better with the game.

[Alfred.Jones 2]

WOAH!! Thats all I can say

[blahdy 21]

thanks

Work to finalize curved off-ramp (type-2, ~7 tiles long) is started.  Signs, tunnel head, fire door, fire hose, etc adjustments are done; however, the transition interface with SC4 needs to be done and road surface UVW needs to be remapped to match tire marks..

Those who commute to Boston may be familiar with this off-ramp.  This one is sort of modelled after Government Center + North End exit on I-93 SB, near from Fulton Street:

[Alfred.Jones 2]

This will look amazing once you have made the transition! keep it up blahdy

[szarkoz 8]

When the transition is made it will be great. Good job blahdy!