The Big Dig The Big Dig | 4. The Double Cross
Oct 11, 2023
A civic battle over a controversial river crossing design sparks neighborhood outrage and front-page media fury. Environmental law, citizen lawsuits, and PR campaigns reshape the plan and inflate costs. Political urgency and a contentious mitigation deal with the Conservation Law Foundation deepen divisions. A reopened review leads to years of redesigns, delays, and a costly final interchange.
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Environmental Law Changed How Much We Build Highways
- NEPA and the rise of citizen litigation raised highway costs by giving citizens real power to sue federal projects.
- Leah Brooks links a 1970s legal turning point (NEPA and Overton Park) to a sustained jump in per-mile highway costs starting mid-1970s.
Public Horrified By Scale Of Scheme Z Model
- Scheme Z was revealed as a towering, 110-foot spiraling interchange that looked like a 'spaghetti bowl' over the Charles River.
- Local reaction was visceral: residents gasped and compared it to an exploded pretzel or scribbles on a page.
Parking Lot Owner Fueled Opposition To Scheme Z
- Richard Goldberg, a parking-lot owner in East Boston, became the unexpected catalyst against Scheme Z after a land dispute over Park and Fly.
- He funded lawyers, PR, studies, and organized a diverse opposition coalition focused on blocking Scheme Z.