Be prepared for Sumner Tunnel closure after the holiday

State officials expect this closure to last just one month, with a plan to reopen the tunnel by Monday, Aug. 5.

A major Sumner Tunnel closure begins later this week, just after the Fourth of July.

Starting at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 5, commuters and visitors should prepare for daily detours and traffic congestion throughout the Downtown and East Boston areas.

State officials expect this closure to last just one month, with the tunnel reopening by 5 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 5. However, additional weekend closures — which have already preceded this major closure — will continue, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The exact schedule for those additional weekend closures will depend on how much work gets completed over the next month.

This upcoming work is the next phase of the $160 million Sumner Tunnel project, which began in April 2022 and includes work on the tunnel ceiling, roadway, walls, and lighting, as well as improvements to overall safety and climate resiliency, MassDOT noted in a previous release.

What areas will be most impacted by the tunnel work?

MassDot said the work will not affect those traveling to Logan Airport and East Boston, but rather those leaving Logan and Eastie, and heading into Boston and areas north of the city. Drivers heading toward Logan and Eastie should follow their typical route, but expect heavier volumes of traffic.

Drivers leaving Logan and heading toward Downtown Boston area should expect to be rerouted to I-90/Ted Williams Tunnel and onto I-93.

As for drivers leaving Logan Airport and looking to get on I-93 north, the agency advises them to follow signs for Route 1A north to Bell Circle Rotary; follow signs to Route 16 to Route 1 south; proceed over Route 1/Tobin Bridge and follow signs to Rutherford Avenue, and continue through Sullivan Square and onto I-93 north.

Discounted or free public transit options

Similar to last summer’s closure, state officials encouraged drivers to utilize public transit as much as possible. MassDOT shared the following incentives for those who choose public transit over driving during the closure:

• Free MBTA Blue Line rides
• Free or reduced cost MBTA water ferry options
• Reduced MBTA commuter rail fares on the Newburyport-Rockport line
• Free service for riders on key Chelsea bus routes, including the Silver Line 3
• Discounted parking at select MBTA and Commuter Rail lots and garages
• Free trips via the RIDE that begin and end within 3/4 mile of MBTA services, July 5 to Aug. 5
• Discounted tolls for Resident Discount Program participants

For more information about the tunnel work, visit mass.gov/sumner-tunnel.   Additionally, MBTA service information can be found at mbta.com. 

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