In 1991, The Big Dig project in Boston, MA finally began to update the mess of tangled roadways that were built in the city before cars were even around. The project wasn’t completed until December 31, 2007. Costing the state $22 billion, it has become famously known as the most expensive highway project undertaken in the United States. The extreme cost and ridiculously long timetable came from poor planning, leaks, inspection and execution failures, and even the death of a motorist. In November of 2009, Massachusetts marked a change in how they would be handling future roadway management with the founding of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).

Learning from its predecessor’s mistakes, in 2017, MassDOT became one of the first state agencies to use drones as critical support tools for state infrastructure. In December 2021, MassDOT sent out a press release addressing the future of the organization’s drone program. The press release states, “MassDOT’s Drone Program performs daily flights to support the MassDOT Highway, Rail and Transit, and Aeronautics Divisions, along with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) that operates the subway and commuter rail lines. These flights inspect rail track, document the health of wetlands near construction sites, and map highway and airport projects.” MassDOT has become a shining example of how drones can be used to cost efficiently expedite the day to day undertakings that keep a metropolis running smoothly.

The MassDOT Aeronautics Division Drone Program works closely with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Though MassDOT is not one of the FAA’s 7 official UAS Test Sites, the December press release announced a new project that aligns with the missions of the UAS Test Sites. One of the biggest goals of the Sites, and anyone in the drone industry, is to enable BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line Of Sight) operations. MassDOT has entered into a partnership with Skyports to test BVLOS drone operations to secluded communities of Cape Cod. “Skyports has been granted approval by the Federal Aviation Administration to operate beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights during a week-long feasibility project. The project will guide MassDOT as it explores broader BVLOS drone operations in Massachusetts, to perform services such as rail network and road inspections.”

Founded in 2017 by Duncan Walker and Simon Morrish out of London, UK, “Skyports is an advanced air mobility company developing and operating landing infrastructure for the electric air taxi revolution, as well as operating cargo drone deliveries,” as described on the company website. The majority of Cape Cod is separated from the mainland by the Cape Cod Canal. The landmass is further broken up into smaller islands that are only accessible via bridges and irregular, seasonal ferries. During the winter, much of the Cape is isolated. MassDOT and Skyport hope to prove that BVLOS drone flights can connect those living year round on the Cape to the mainland for things like healthcare and emergency services.

The Big Dig gave the state of Massachusetts a reputation as having one of the most poorly organized infrastructure agencies. Since the forming of MassDOT, the state has worked hard to correct that image and provide better infrastructure support to the state. The use of drones has been vital in bringing MassDOT into the future and will continue to do so.