Safety

Vehicular Arches

Existing Vehicular Arches

The second, smaller arch was added in 1953.

Vehicular and Pedestrian Arch Rehabilitation plans, originally proposed in 1941 by Canton's Town Planner.  The plans calls for two additional arches in the Canton Viaduct for pedestrians with sidewalks and widening of the approaching winding roads through the bridge.

A terrorist target...

In a letter to Canton's Board of Selectmen on 2/27/2002, Police Chief Peter Bright wrote, "Canton should be considered a target for terrorists.  During training scenarios, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) often uses the destruction of the Neponset River viaduct as a worst-case situation for disruption of the national railroad system.  The only producer of smallpox vaccine in the Western Hemisphere is housed in Canton.  The son of the President of Pakistan also lives in town.  The Federal Government considers each of these a high-risk target.  If any group decides that these targets warrant an attack, a simultaneous attack on the Town's police and 911 communications would greatly enhance havoc..."

Read about Safety issues from articles in the Canton Citizen and the Neponset Valley Daily News.

Discussion of Vehicular Arch Renovation at televised TV debate, 3/23/2001

The Canton Viaduct is considered a dangerous intersection: 11/21/??

Courtesy of Townonline via Michael Ventura

We are in the process of creating a survey about the small vehicular arch renovation and the addition of two pedestrian arches and other safety concerns at the Canton Viaduct.