The JFX as we know it turns 50 today...but what could have been? We all know the road as the quick way to get downtown from the North, or vice versa. I think just about everyone notices how it comes to a screeching halt when you get down to President street (and the highway ends). Did you know that the original plan was for the road to continue right over the harbor?
Thankfully this didn't come about, otherwise we would have witnessed the destruction of the Inner Harbor, Federal Hill, Fells Point, and Canton. All those neighborhoods would have had an elevated highway going right through them, destroying the neighborhoods which have become the bedrock for the revival of the city in recent years.
There was one part of the design that should have been done though. For almost a dozen blocks around Penn Station, a park system was to be built over the road. Ever notice that the road is so low around that area? Someday hopefully we'll be able to revive this idea to give the area some much-needed green space. At the very least, the block in front of Penn Station should be done (UB, are you listening?).
Baltimore Sun's story today on the JFX:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-jfx-turns-fifty-20111213,0,2093752.story
And here's a nice little photo gallery by the Sun:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bal-jones-falls-expressway-pg,0,5272190.photogallery
