Everything, everywhere, all at once -The challenging feat of getting around Southie lately.
If you’ve been driving around the neighborhood lately, you’ve probably noticed how frustrating it is. Between the numerous construction projects, the replacement of underground pipes, and bus lanes, it has been a “challenge,” to say the least. Driving up Sixth Street from K to I – whoops, you can’t make a right-hand turn. Driving down M Street, the same thing – a detour sign stopping you from getting down to Day Boulevard. Take a left on Marine to loop around. Nope, that’s closed, too. Make the mistake and take a right on Marine and a left on L. Good luck making that turn – that intersection is a nightmare. Not only that, but the lights at L and Columbia seem to be timed for exactly two cars to go through.
Down on Old Colony Ave, there is some sort of digging going on, which has pushed all the traffic into one lane. West Fourth Street between A and B, you can’t cut through – closed due to construction. The 776 Summer Street (Old Edison Plant) project has taken over the sidewalk on Summer Street and one lane of traffic. Now combine that will the newly painted bus lane, pushing a steady flow of two lanes into one. Prediction: when the bus lanes on Summer get painted red and enforced, the line of traffic will stretch all the way to Kosciuszko Circle during the morning commute into downtown. One good thing, maybe it will stop the suburbanites from using L/Summer as a cut-through.
Speaking of Kosciuszko Circle, aka the rotary from hell near the State Police barracks, it’s a gridlocked nightmare during rush hour. Back in 2021, it was announced a traffic study was implemented for this area and would take 12-18 months….that long to figure out it stinks? Hang onto your hats when the Dorchester Bay City Project begins. Also, the Mary Ellen McCormack development combined with the Washington Village Project already underway. All happening at the same time as the 776 Summer Street Project. And don’t forget this giant project that is coming our way.
The bike lane on A Street is causing neighborhood controversy with cars parking in it and getting the bike vs. car people riled up. What about the teeny tiny sidewalks on A Street and also on East/West First Street? Any plan for widening those, or is it single file for pedestrians?
Now for the Seaport District. There are metered parking spots with bike lanes on the inside. All it takes is one Uber to pull over or a delivery person picking up from Shake Shack to screw up traffic. And if you’re riding a bike on the inside lane, good luck with the pedestrians looking at their phones and people getting in and out of the cars. It’s the wild west.
Bottom line if you live in City Point and need to drive down to Foodie’s to pick up dinner or Social Wines to pick up a case of wine, good luck. If you live in the West Broadway neighborhood and want to drive to Sully’s to get a hot dog, it might take you 40 minutes.
Mix this all in with the normal steady stream of residential construction projects with dumpsters, work trucks, etc., in addition to food delivery drivers and ride-share app drivers that just stop in the middle of the street and do not pull all the way over, aka double park for the rest of the traffic to flow. And don’t even get me started on potholes in Southie and the City’s refusal to fill them. The rumor is that the City’s Chief of Streets believes it is a “proven traffic calming measure.” So good luck and be careful out there!
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Peter Gailunas is a lifelong Southie resident and Boston firefighter who sometimes takes it upon himself to tell people what’s what. Favorite day of the week is trash day. Big fan of the 311 app, food shopping and cooking. Self-proclaimed “Fastest Man Alive.” Married to the editor.
Why would you ever drive to foodies from city point?? Bus, bike, and walking are all much better options. Especially once all bus lanes are completed. Too many cars on the road is the reason for traffic. Of course construction makes it worse but it only gets better when there are fewer cars on the road.
So true, Paul! Bus No 9 is the best thing about Southie. If only there were bus service to the seaport, we’d have so many fewer ubers in the area!
F the cars he said sarcastically. I wonder how many more people this drives (pun intended) out of the city.
don’t forget Cypher St going to the airport is now blocked off! Anyone know why?
https://caughtinsouthie.com/news-politics/cypher-e-street-project-get-the-details-community-input-meeting-on-wednesday/
Thank you, Peter.
Absolutely redonkulous.
I hear you. Due to all the construction that’s been going on, we’ve been having pretty similar traffic problems in Somerville, as well. Wild.
Well said… my commute home has doubled just getting from expressway to Southie. Who measured the dotted line spaces and placements for lane changing?
Free showers on summer street! The water spray from the 776 project goes over the bus stop! Bring an umbrella!
Is Peter Gelzinis formerly of the Herald now writing for CIS ? Well written article. Wow who’s next Mike Barnicle ?
By the way if you want a case of wine, Total Wine delivers to Southie.
It’s Peter Gailunas not Gelzinis…or is that suppose to be a joke…
Does anyone know how we can give feedback to the city? This has been so inconvenient for all of us who live here and it keeps getting worse.
You can reach out to the mayor’s office or City Councilor Ed flynn’s office. https://www.boston.gov/departments/city-council
Sorry I read it quickly and thought it was the herald dude. PeterGailunas is a better writer honestly.
Does the city realize what a nightmare A Street is going to be when it snows? After the plows go by it’s going to be way too narrow. Unless they play the “snow emergency” card and make cars move off the street.
Peter – Yeah BFD double parked on Broadway picking up lunch and F’in traffic up – Not to mention the hundreds of Overtime Fire Details on these projects you mention – Don’t shit in your own back yard sir
Gheesh…this comment is uncalled for. Why are you using a fake gmail account? Get some balls and use your real name. So how should BFD get lunch or go to the supermarket? You know they have to stay as a group with the apparatus if there is an call right? And where should they park the giant fire truck? You sound like a jerk.
Ed’s still not over not being hired by the department, probably never took the test and thought he was entitled to the job. Sad, really. Let it go and let the men enjoy their lunch.
I am very ignorant but found this article interesting when trying to learn more about all the roadwork: https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/10/04/40m-boston-road-paving-accounts-went-unaudited-for-years-watchdog-report-says/
Curious what happened. A lot of don’t understand, whatever company got the National Grid contact must be raking it in.