This new alignment took it across the middle of several former wharves, notably Long Wharf, and the water west of Atlantic Avenue was filled in.

From Broad and High Streets south to Dewey Square, Atlantic Avenue was made one-way northbound as a frontage road for the Artery, with southbound traffic using Purchase Street on the other side of the Artery.

Atlantic Avenue was kept two-way south of Dewey Square, where through traffic used the Surface Artery.

The Union Freight Railroad was abandoned in 1970, removing tracks from the center of Atlantic Avenue.

A short section of Old Atlantic Avenue exists in the original location between Milk and State Streets.

An 1888 map appears to show tracks again, along the full length of Atlantic Avenue (ending at the Commercial Street merge), and an 1897 map shows tracks not only on all of Atlantic Avenue but also on Commercial Street towards North Station.