Here is a story from The Italian News, Oct. 20, 1953 == almost 60 years ago. This was when construction of the Central Artery was underway.
The last paragraph of the story is cut off, but tells it all:
Meanwhile, the traffic and parking situation in the area gets no better, with North End businessmen and residents wondering when a definite solution, rather than hazy “plans”, will be presented.
I have an idea! Lets get an old barge that is retired from shipping Japanese cars to the USA and place it out in the harbor. Right at Pilot House Park here:
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=4+winds+boston&ie=UTF-8&ei=qzo3UquCPfL64APLz4CoAQ&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAg.
Park the barge in the water and get little shuttle buses to bring people back and fourth to the boat.