Massachusetts Turnpike Authority

The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority is responsible for the maintenance and operation of the Massachusetts Turnpike, Boston extension, and Callahan Tunnel to East Boston, all of which it constructed, and of the Sumner Tunnel from East Boston. Planning for the demolition of a related road system, the Boston central artery, known officially as the John F. Fitzgerald Expressway, and its replacement with an underground central artery, began in 1982. The Central Artery/Tunnel Project, known informally as the Big Dig, was federally funded in 1987; construction, managed by the authority, was initiated by groundbreaking in 1991, and during 2003 completed to the point that the entire new route, including an additional East Boston tunnel and a new bridge over the Charles River, was opened to vehicular traffic.

From the description of Central Artery/Tunnel Project records management files, 1987-2005. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 84672671

St 1952, c 354 created the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, consisting of three gubernatorial appointees serving staggered eight-year terms, to construct, reconstruct, maintain, repair, and operate the Massachusetts Turnpike from the New York state line to the vicinity of Boston (later extended to downtown Boston); its powers include the taking of state highways, acquisition of real property by purchase or eminent domain, issuance of revenue bonds, and collection of tolls.

St 1958, c 598 extended its jurisdiction to maintenance and operation of the vehicular tunnel (Sumner) between Boston proper and East Boston, and the construction of a second such tunnel (Callahan). The authority is designated a body politic and corporate and a public instrumentality, placed in but not subject to general jurisdiction of the Dept. of Public Works (Massachusetts Highway Dept. from 1992). St 1969, c 704, s 3 also placed it within the Executive Office of Transportation and Construction. Its functions are currently described in MGLA c 81 App s 1-1 et seq.

NAME AUTHORITY NOTE. Series relating to the agency described above can be found by searching the following access point for the time period stated: 1952-present--Massachusetts Turnpike Authority.

From the description of Agency history record. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122609632