Deborah Greenberg of Newton has been commuting to Boston via the Mass. Pike and Storrow Drive for the past few years, and she is getting tired of watching trucks back up.
"I get off the Pike and get on Storrow Drive at the Embassy Suites," she wrote in an e-mail. "For some crazy reason they have taken down the height barrier at the ramp entrance; there is just a lighted sign warning of the low overpass ahead. I must see a truck pulled over at the first overpass at least once a week. This involves closing a lane and having the truck back up. On a recent Saturday, there was a truck stopped on my way in and I noticed another truck backing up when I was returning. This is nuts. Do you have any idea when the barrier will return? Talk about cost waste. A police escort is required each time, and the traffic delays are horrendous."
State Department of Conservation and Recreation spokeswoman Wendy Fox said the barrier was not removed intentionally. "It was hit by a truck." She said placement of a temporary sign has been problematic because trucks need to get on the roadway to enter a freight yard near the overpass. She said a new barrier should be in place in about a month.
Massport is offering discount parking rates for those who use its express bus service to Logan Airport from Braintree, Framingham, Peabody, and Woburn. The special parking rate is $22 for up to a two-week stay for travelers who enter the parking before 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. Weekly parking rates are normally $66. Buses depart hourly from Peabody and every half hour from Braintree, Framingham, and Woburn. For directions, bus schedules, and ticket prices, visit flylogan.com.
Commonwealth Avenue outbound, from Arlington Street through Kenmore Square, will be closed from 6 to 11 a.m.
Traffic will be diverted at some streets (including Charlesgate East and West) leading to Commonwealth.
Traffic on Commonwealth inbound at Kenmore Square will also be diverted.
Arlington Street, between Beacon Street and Commonwealth Avenue, will be also be closed from 6 to 11 a.m.
Beacon Street between Charles Street and Arlington Street, and also outbound from Kenmore Square in Boston to Carlton Street in Brookline will be closed from 7 a.m. to noon.
Traffic at the intersection of Beacon Street and Park Drive will be diverted from 7 a.m. to noon.
Work is expected to continue through September, but most will be done between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. Commuters may keep up to date on the project at pavert9.com.
Starts & Stops appears every other Sunday in Globe NorthWest. Transportation comments and questions may be sent to starts@globe.com.
