“The Distressway” they called it. A fitting name for the elevated highway that once loomed over this very spot. Look at the John F. Fitzgerald Expressway Plaque. It marks a place where history is layered like a geological strata. This plaque commemorates the John F. Fitzgerald Expressway a section of freeway in downtown Boston. Officially named after John F. Fitzgerald it was also known as the Central Artery.
The original Artery built in the 1950s was a marvel of engineering. It was partly elevated partly tunneled. The elevated sections were a source of immense pride. They were also a source of frustration. The highway was notorious for its congestion. Nicknames like “the largest parking lot in the world” and “the other Green Monster” reflect its notorious traffic jams. The green paint of the highway girders resembled the left field wall at Fenway Park.
But the Artery wasn’t just a traffic nightmare. It was a symbol of the city’s ambition. It was also a symbol of the city’s flaws. Its construction involved demolishing homes and businesses causing displacement and disruption to entire communities. The cost was high both financially and socially. The impact extended beyond mere inconvenience. The elevated highway divided neighborhoods creating physical and social barriers between communities.
The John F. Fitzgerald Expressway wasn’t always underground. The original highway was mostly above ground. It was eventually moved underground as part of a massive project called the “Big Dig.” This decade-long undertaking from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s rerouted the Artery. This involved constructing new tunnels and demolishing the old elevated structure. The new tunnels run under downtown Boston. This significantly changed the urban landscape. The old Artery’s footprint became the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway named after John F. Fitzgerald’s daughter.
The John F. Fitzgerald Expressway Plaque you see here is a reminder. It is a reminder of the changes wrought by urban renewal. It is a reminder of the choices made. It is a reminder that progress has consequences. Some are visible and immediate. Others are subtle and long lasting. This plaque is more than a simple marker. It’s a gateway to reflection. It is a prompt to consider the legacy of this transformative project. This piece of Boston’s infrastructure history deserves its own story. One that moves beyond the traffic jams and into the hearts of the communities it forever affected.