22 Years and Counting!

2, Jan, 2025
January is often a month where we look ahead to the year to come, and while that certainly holds true for us here at The Greenway, it’s also an especially poignant time as we reflect on our history and all that was made possible by marking an important day on the calendar: January 2nd, the anniversary of the “Big Dig.”

 

Photo Credit: David L. Ryan

 

January 2, 2025 marks 22 years since the Central Artery/Tunnel Project, commonly known as the “Big Dig,” entered the final phase of construction. On January 2, 2003, the central portion of the I-93 tunnel was completed and officially opened to traffic, and while it would still be several years before we were able to break ground on The Greenway, this monumental milestone brought us that much closer to the vibrant, lush, welcoming community space we know and love today.

 

Photo Credit: Kyle Klein

Did you know…

For years the Big Dig was front-page news both here in Boston, and around the country. But did you know these fun facts about the project?

It took more than a decade and a half to complete

The Big Dig took more than 15 years to complete (that’s 5,475 days!). Construction began in 1991 and didn’t officially finish until 2007. During that time, it required the removal of more than 16 million cubic yards of material. That’s enough to fill a stadium (like TD Garden) 16 times.

It gave us cleaner air

One of the final outcomes of the Big Dig was that it helped to reduce carbon monoxide levels in Boston by improving the flow of traffic. Less time spent idling in traffic means fewer greenhouse gas emissions and cleaner air for us all. Researchers also estimate the addition of the tunnels, and other improvements, save millions of gallons of gasoline consumption annually.

Debris found a second life

Many local organizations were able to use materials excavated from the Big Dig to make improvements to their sites. In fact, local parks repurposed nearly half of the excavated material according to reports. Most notably, much of the soil went toward the transformations of Spectacle Island, Millennium Park, and Memorial Stadium Park, creating the beautiful landscapes we enjoy today.

Boston got cooler

The Big Dig made Boston even “cooler” and reduced the urban heat island effect with the addition of an estimated 900 trees along the downtown corridor following the completion of construction, and a total of 4,800 trees and 31,000 shrubs being planted in all of the resulting green space following project completion.

We were one step closer to The Greenway

And our favorite fun fact: the Big Dig ultimately allowed for the creation of the Rose Kennedy Greenway! This 1.5 mile-long park runs above the tunnels, and features green spaces, gardens and pathways for all to enjoy. The Greenway has become a gathering place in downtown Boston for hundreds of outdoor community events each year.

Looking forward to 2025

It’s amazing to look back and recognize how far we’ve come with the support of our community members and partners. Thanks to you, we were able to host more than 400 outdoor community events at The Greenway in 2024. From Public Art openings, fitness classes, food trucks, volunteer opportunities and more– it was a year to remember. We can’t wait to share everything that we have planned for 2025 with you in the months to come.

For all of the latest updates on events, programming and more, don’t forget to follow us on social media or check out our events calendar online.