Editing Big Dig (section)

=== Surface treatments ===
Some surface treatments that were part of the original project plan were dropped due to the massive cost overruns on the highway portion of the project.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna22394932 |title=$14.8 billion later, Big Dig finally complete |work=NBC News| date=December 25, 2007 |access-date=April 19, 2023}}</ref>

$99.1 million was allocated for [[Environmental mitigation|mitigating improvements]]<ref name="DCR2017">[https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2017/02/zp/New%2520Charles%2520River%2520Basin%2520Master%2520Plan%2520update%2520%25202017_01_17.pdf New Charles River Basin Citizens Advisory Committee, January 17, 2017] (presentation)</ref> to the [[Charles River Basin]], including the construction of [[North Point Park (Massachusetts)|North Point Park]] in Cambridge and [[Paul Revere Park]] in Charlestown.<ref name="DCR2017" /> The North Bank Bridge, providing pedestrian and bicycle connectivity between the parks, was not funded until the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]]. Nashua Street Park on the Boston side was completed in 2003, by McCourt Construction with $7.9 million in funding from MassDOT.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mccourtconstruction.com/project-title-5/ |title=Nashua Street Park |publisher=McCourt Construction |year=2005}}</ref>

As of 2017, $30.5 million had been transferred to the [[Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation]] to complete five projects. Another incomplete but required project is the South Bank Bridge over the MBTA Commuter Rail tracks at North Station (connecting Nashua Street Park to the proposed South Bank Park, which is currently a parking lot under the Zakim Bridge at the Charles River locks).<ref>[https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/imce-uploads/2018-02/2018-02-05_noi_compiled.pdf Notice of Intent – SOUTH BANK BRIDGE PROJECT – Contract No. P13-2843-C1A] (submitted by DCR to Boston Conservation Commission, with maps)</ref>

Improvements in the lower Charles River Basin include the new walkway at [[Lovejoy Wharf]] (constructed by the developer of 160 North Washington Street, the new headquarters of [[Converse (shoe company)|Converse]]), the Lynch Family Skate Park (constructed in 2015 by the Charles River Conservancy), rehabilitation of historic operations buildings for the [[Charles River Dam]] and lock, a maintenance facility, and a planned pedestrian walkway across the Charles River next to the [[MBTA Commuter Rail]] drawbridge at North Station (connecting Nashua Street Park and North Point Park).<ref name="DCR2017" /> MassDOT is funding the South Bank Park,<ref name="DCR2017" /> and replacement of the North Washington Street Bridge (construction Aug 2018–23).<ref>[https://www.mass.gov/north-washington-street-bridge-replacement North Washington Street Bridge Replacement]</ref>

[[EF Education]] is funding public greenspace improvements as part of its three-phase expansion at North Point.<ref>[https://www.cambridgema.gov/~/media/Files/CDD/ZoningDevel/SpecialPermits/sp328/SP328_app_Vol3_A.pdf EF Education III]</ref> Remaining funding may be used to construct the North Point Inlet pedestrian bridge, and a pedestrian walkway over [[Leverett Circle]]. Before being replaced with surface access during the reconstruction of the [[Science Park station (MBTA)|Science Park]] MBTA Green Line station, Leverett Circle had pedestrian bridges with stairs that provided elevated access between the station, the Charles River Parks, and the sidewalk to the [[Boston Museum of Science]]. The replacement ramps would comply with [[Americans with Disabilities Act]] requirements and allow easy travel by wheelchair or bicycle over the busy intersection.<ref name="DCR2017" />