Storrow Drive

Storrow Drive, officially named James Jackson Storrow Memorial Drive, is an urban expressway in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood that runs eastward along the Charles River. As a parkway, the route is designed exclusively for passenger cars, while trucks and buses are prohibited. It connects Leverett Circle with Massachusetts Route 28 and serves mainly as a fast link to downtown and the Harvard Bridge. It is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and is considered part of the Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston and the historic Charles River Basin Historic District.

The history of the roadway is closely tied to investment banker James J. Storrow, who championed turning the riverbanks into a public park but personally never supported a highway along the river. Despite opposition from his widow and strong protests in the 1930s, the project was pushed through politically in the late 1940s. Construction began at the turn of 1950/1951 on the condition that every parcel of green space built over had to be offset by new waterfront land. The road officially opened on June 15, 1951.

For visitors, Storrow Drive offers more than a practical traffic connection; it also provides some memorable experiences. During the annual summer evening concerts at the Hatch Shell, many people use the exit ramps as free parking spots to enjoy the fireworks. The tight clearances under bridges and in the tunnel, however, make the road problematic for larger vehicles, which occasionally leads to traffic jams. The road is also known for its narrow lanes and the challenges it presents in heavy rain or wintry conditions.