The Big Dig

Protests

The anti-highway protests in Boston were a powerful demonstration of community resistance against urban highway projects. Ian Coss recounts how Cambridge residents, including children, traveled to Washington, D.C., with signs declaring "Cambridge is a city, not a highway," capturing national attention 1. This grassroots movement grew into a significant challenge to state road-building policies, culminating in a massive protest at the Massachusetts State House, where Francis Sargent, the governor, addressed the crowd but offered only a promise to review the issue 2.

   

Coalitions

Local coalitions played a crucial role in opposing highway projects, uniting diverse communities under a common cause. Fred Salvucci describes how technical experts collaborated with neighborhood groups, challenging the state's authority and advocating for less destructive alternatives 3. The Greater Boston Committee on the Transportation Crisis (GBC) emerged as a key player, unifying various factions with the simple message of "No new highways in Greater Boston," and effectively capturing the governor's attention 4.