Boston Central Artery/Tunnel Project (Big Dig)

[GMT 389]

im stunned

[teemu_om 47]

Amazing.

[tommiej 0]

almost perfect, those 2 words say everything!!

[JCarter 0]

All I can say is wow! I do remember you mentioning earlier this month that there *may* be a version that will not require subway traffic (instead it would be underground puzzle pieces), are the models we are seeing car based or subway based? If not, when are the car based lots expected to come out? Just curious. Anyways, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!!

[blahdy 21]

Originally posted by: JCarter All I can say is wow! I do remember you mentioning earlier this month that there *may* be a version that will not require subway traffic (instead it would be underground puzzle pieces), are the models we are seeing car based or subway based? If not, when are the car based lots expected to come out? Just curious. Anyways, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!!quote>

The RHW transition being worked on above is specifically designed for use with non-subway tunnels.  I believe the tunnels are based on NAM tunnel concept -- it's currently being engineered/designed by Tarkus for integration once modelling work has been completed and product has been delivered for modding.

The RHW transition will turn the RHW connection into a non-subway NAM based tunnel.  You will also note that there is a small 1-lane tunnel connecting to it on the right side from RHW.  That tunnel will have a subway connection -- the idea is that you can use the RHW transition piece to connect your RHW ground highway to underground NAM tunnel, while at the same time, to connect your subway-based big dig network into the NAM tunnel network -- thus providing compatibility between two different modes of big dig networks (one being subway based network, other being NAM/RHW tunnel network)

hope this answers your question =)

[DocWright 1]

Blahdy, I must say that this project is absolutely amazing! I haven't followed the thread for very long, but your effort in this is commendable to say the least. I've recently downloaded the tunnel entrances/exits and they work great! One request/inquiry: would it be possible to re-texture one of the entrance ramps as a GLR-to-subway transition lot? I'm not sure if this has been requested before, if so I apologize for not reading all 60 pages for an answer. Thank you and keep up the good work!

[JCarter 0]

Originally posted by: blahdy

Originally posted by: JCarter All I can say is wow! I do remember you mentioning earlier this month that there *may* be a version that will not require subway traffic (instead it would be underground puzzle pieces), are the models we are seeing car based or subway based? If not, when are the car based lots expected to come out? Just curious. Anyways, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!!quote>

The RHW transition being worked on above is specifically designed for use with non-subway tunnels.  I believe the tunnels are based on NAM tunnel concept -- it's currently being engineered/designed by Tarkus for integration once modelling work has been completed and product has been delivered for modding.

The RHW transition will turn the RHW connection into a non-subway NAM based tunnel.  You will also note that there is a small 1-lane tunnel connecting to it on the right side from RHW.  That tunnel will have a subway connection -- the idea is that you can use the RHW transition piece to connect your RHW ground highway to underground NAM tunnel, while at the same time, to connect your subway-based big dig network into the NAM tunnel network -- thus providing compatibility between two different modes of big dig networks (one being subway based network, other being NAM/RHW tunnel network)

hope this answers your question =)quote>

For the most part I get it but the second tube part is still a bit confusing...could you give a scenerio? Yeah, I know...Im slow.

[Tarkus 6,933]

JCarter:  Well, the way I'm planning it right now, there will actually be a transit switch in there that will switch the Big Dig Subway traffic into Big Dig RHW-Underground traffic.  The freshly converted traffic can then integrate into the existing RHW traffic with an underground interchange, made with the RHWMIS.  To put it a little more clearly, the first tube is the RHW, the second tube is the Subway converting into an RHWMIS ramp.

Hope that answers your question.

-Tarkus

Edit: 400th post . . .

[JCarter 0]

Originally posted by: Tarkus JCarter:  Well, the way I'm planning it right now, there will actually be a transit switch in there that will switch the Big Dig Subway traffic into Big Dig RHW-Underground traffic.  The freshly converted traffic can then integrate into the existing RHW traffic with an underground interchange, made with the RHWMIS.  To put it a little more clearly, the first tube is the RHW, the second tube is the Subway converting into an RHWMIS ramp.

Hope that answers your question.

-Tarkus

Edit: 400th post . . .quote>

Ah, I get it now! Thanks! Oh, and congrats on your milestone!

[blahdy 21]

Lane paintings and road bed modelling have been completed on the RHW side.  Subway/tunnel connector will be the next step:

The model is now 90% completed:

DocWright:  Actually i have a plan for rail-based tunnel entrances in the future, which is probably better fit than retrofitting road tunnels for GLR..  thanks for the comment!

[JCarter 0]

Blahdy, STOP!!! That last pic made me feel like I was actually on the highway! lol jk

[LP 1]

Well... I just crashed into the signpost with my computer... sorry...

Yep, you officially make real life look like crap.

[JCarter 0]

Dang, we're gonna break our monitors if we keep looking at Blahdy's work! lol. This looks better than real life! Hopefully SimCity 5 will render this better!

[DFire870 2]

Holy crap, those pictures are gorgeous. I need to download this next time I have time. (Not to mention it'll help immensely for another city I'm planning on doing)

[blahdy 21]

Thanks guys for comments/compliments.

Overhead sign configuration is now finalized for RHW transition:

[blahdy 21]

page flip

[bwatterud 7]

We loveses the tunneleses. Yes we does. We must have them. They are our prrrrrrrrecious.

[allan_kuan1992 6]

Just plain stunning. I can't even take my eyes off this work.

Yes, I already do have Atlantic Avenue Ramp and the two Leverett Ramps, but is there a possibility of adding more variety and releasing this ramp to non-RHW users? Please?

- Allan Kuan

[JCarter 0]

IMPECIBLE DETAIL!!!! Seriously, are you planning this for SC5? I wish SC4 had better graphics, then I could appreciate this detail even more.

[blahdy 21]

allen_kuan: may be.. if there's some additional free time available;  i'll consider it but the focus right now is to provide a transition piece exclusively for 2-lane RHW (3-lane RHW to follow later;  Charles River Crossing will use 3 lane RHW pieces at transition).

Model is now 95% completed.  All tunnel boat sections are now complete, including lane markings.  The road surface under tunnel roof need to be completed.

The modelling is expected to be complete by beginning of next week for hand-off to RHW modding team -- if things go as scheduled:

Also, once this transition piece is completed, standalone Tunnel Approach Overhead Signs will be made.   Though not required, if you want a very realistic CJ, you would place the following 3 overhead signs next to RHW network on approach to the above Big Dig<->RHW transition piece.

The overhead sign setup design is mixed between Fort McHenry tunnel approaches in Baltimore area and I-93 tunnel approaches in Boston to provide realistic approach.  Following lots will be made with specifications below:

First Standalone Sign Lot:  Initial Approach Sign

Place this sign at least 1 and 3/4th mile away from RHW-BIGDIG tunnel portal on approach. 

Has two signs with following contents:

SIGN1: "CLEARANCE 13'-9"; TUNNEL AHEAD 1 3/4 MI"

SIGN2: "ALL HAZMATS USE EXITS 27 AND 28"

This sign will be based on standard truss based gantry bridge, to provide a traditional rural themed look.

Second Standalone Sign Lot: Mid-point Approach Sign

Place this sign at least  3/4th mile away from RHW-BIGDIG tunnel portal on approach.  And place an exit ramp after it.

Has OVDS (overheight vehicle detection) and a VMS to inform vehicles to "EXIT RIGHT" when they are too tall to clear the upcoming tunnel.

Has two signs with following contents:

SIGN1:  "<Directional drawing with Interchange Diagram for upcoming road interchanges/exits> ; TUNNEL AHEAD"

SIGN2: "ALL HAZMATS EXIT RIGHT"

This sign will be based on standard truss based gantry bridge, to provide a traditional rural look, however will feature two Lane Control Signs (LCS) -- first sign of transition from rural highway to modern urban highway with intelligent transportation system.

Third Standalone Sign Lot: Terminal Approach Sign

Place this sign at about 1/4th mile away from RHW-BIGDIG tunnel portal on approach.  And place an exit ramp after it.

Has OVDS and VMS to inform vehicles to "EXIT RIGHT" when they are too tall to clear the tunnel.

Has two signs with following contents:

SIGN1: "CLEARANCE 13'-9"; <ADDTL CONTENT>; LAST EXIT BEFORE TUNNEL ->"

SIGN2: "HAZMATS EXIT NOW! ->"

This sign will be based on modern blue-colored rounded pipe gantry bridge, a symbolic transition that rural highway is about to fully become modern urban highway.  Lane Control Signs will be present below the signs.

To further realism, if you have not noticed, the RHW-BIGDIG transition piece model above has its own set of OVDS and VMS along with traffic lights to provide last resort to stop overheight vehicles before entering tunnel.

[Alfred.Jones 2]

Holy shoot Blahdy!!!! That is soooo amazing! The detail and quality is increadable!! Keep it up mate

[Dexter 41]

That looks great! Too good for SimCity 4. Your not secretly working for another game developer are you?

Just one note though - The border markings on the RHW texture appear to be mirrored (IE. The yellow line to the left of the carraigeway instead of on the right - Unless I am missing something?

[Andreas Roth 628]

I'm glad you included those brownish rain gutters in the new models. They surely come in handy to catch all the massive streams of drool that are flowing from everyone's mouths.

[blahdy 21]

Originally posted by: Dexter That looks great! Too good for SimCity 4. Your not secretly working for another game developer are you?

Just one note though - The border markings on the RHW texture appear to be mirrored (IE. The yellow line to the left of the carraigeway instead of on the right - Unless I am missing something?quote>

thanks;

It is an onramp for inbound traffic flow, thus yellow lane is stationed to the left of vehicle direction.  This is North American right-hand drive standard (not European or left hand drive standard), so median divider would be situated to the left of driver, not right side.

hope this clarifies..

[JCarter 0]

Cool, can you also make some signs for on ramps to I-90? And Andreas, I couldnt agree more! And yes, the yellow line is supposed to be on the left.

[tommiej 0]

looks awesome!!!!!!! like how you did it!

i have a question, what is that RHW underground thing, is it an underground network or something??

keep it up!!

[Voulpiotis 4]

I like those plans!

[Haljackey 17,398]

Wow!  Nicely done blahdy!  I really like that RHW transition!  

[blahdy 21]

thanks everyone;

tommiej:  i think tarkus will probably better explain that I... but the rationale behind researching that use is b/c it can pass traffic of all sorts, instead of jury-rigging it via subway.  it's a more mature tunnel, but subway provides flexibility of extreme curvature when you need to create underground interchange ramp.

jcarter: any pictures of something you have in mind for ramp entrance signs? ill probably think of something better then

The road bed under the tunnel roof is now completed:

We've come a long way (for weeks), but the modelling phase of RHWMIS transition piece is now 100% completed.  you may celebrate at will

Next step: night lights

[owenluby 1]

Do you reckon it is possible to have the grass textures changed to transparent? I think that would work better with blending it in with the rest of the city...

Just a suggestion/idea...

Looking awesome though, Blahdy!