Pike May Dump 25,500 Cars Into City

An estimated 25,500 cars a day may pour off the Cambridge St. exit of the Massachusetts Turnpike extension into Cambridge's already badly clogged streets, the CRIMSON learned yesterday. Traffic engineers have estimated that when the Turnpike extension is completed next year, the exit (located just down-river from the Business School) will dump approximately 16,500 cars a day from Boston and 9,000 from the western part of the State.

Although it is impossible to estimate traffic flow now, it is expected that hundreds of extra cars will turn left after crossing the Charles and proceed through streets around the University into the Square.

University officials have expressed grave concern over the possibility of a great deal more traffic in this area, and a City planning officer admitted yesterday that he is "quite worried" about serious traffic problems throughout Cambridge.

Turnpike Authority plans also call for breakdown trucking terminal at the Cambridge St. exit in the old Brighton railroad yards. Massachusetts law prohibits diesel cabs from having any more than one trailer except on the Turnpike.

Thus trucks which plan to drive onto State highways from the pike will have to stop at the terminal to have extra trailers removed. Although the noise may create a considerable problem for WGBH-TV's new studio, to be built almost directly opposite the terminal, University officials do not think it will bother students at the Business School.

The only solution to hopeless overcrowding of Cambridge streets may be construction of an Inner Belt highway through the City. At least this is the theory of many members of the Planning Board.

Unfortunately, the Cambridge City Council has consistently been opposed to most proposed routes for the Belt highway, and the Turnpike will be finished long before any realistic Belt highway can be constructed.