Dont_mute_me_bro t1_j9y75nt wrote on February 25, 2023 at 12:48 PM

The financing and after that the cost is what concerns me. We're paying over $10 to cross the Verrazano and GW Bridges each way. The Verrazano is 60 years old. Surely it's paid for itself by now.

As to the Big Dig...The original estimated cost was $2.8 billion. The final project cost was $14.6 billion. The Boston Globe estimates the Big Dig will ultimately cost $22 billion (with interest) and that it won't be paid for until 2038. With inflation being what is is, I can't imagine that in current dollars.

Even_Acadia3085 t1_j9z1uv5 wrote on February 25, 2023 at 4:51 PM

Big Dig was expensive but had major technical issues this project would not have. Also, even with the huge costs, it surely has created over $22B in value to the city of Boston already. Getting rid of BQE in front of Brooklyn waterfront might do the same, although since the vast majority of the area is already very expensive and landmarked (justifiably) this might not create the sort of building boom seen up north.

Dont_mute_me_bro t1_j9z7keg wrote on February 25, 2023 at 5:28 PM

Between the subway lines, the water being Brough in from the Catskills, and the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, I don't see how it's done without being astronomically expensive.