Friday, September 2, 2022
Sumner Tunnel Project Updates From The Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
Labor Day Holiday: Tunnel Open Weekend of September 2
Because of an anticipated increase in regional travel over the Labor Day weekend, the Sumner Tunnel will be open during the weekend of Friday, September 2. Work will resume on the weekend of Friday, September 9.
Tunnel Closure Weekend of September 9
The Sumner Tunnel will be closed on Friday, September 9 at 11:00 p.m. and will re-open to traffic on Monday, September 12 at 5:00 a.m.
Travel Tips
Plan Your Route
MassDOT continues to remind drivers to plan for extra travel time during weekend closures, consider the Blue Line or Silver Line as an alternative to driving, and stay informed by signing up for email updates through the project website.
The MBTA is scheduled to operate full Blue Line service during weekend tunnel closures, which provides the most direct connection between East Boston and the downtown area. If you’re driving a vehicle, a number of signed detours will be in effect. Follow the links below to view the detour routes and plan your trip.
Weekend of September 9
Over the course of the weekend of September 9, MassDOT will be preparing the tunnel walls for concrete repairs, installing reinforcements to the East Boston boat section walls, demolishing ceiling panels, preparing pre-cast ceiling arch replacements, reinforcing the supports of existing tunnel cable walls, and completing all cleaning operations required to open the tunnel by Monday morning. Work will be taking place continuously throughout the weekend.
Adjacent projects
In addition to the Sumner Tunnel restoration project, drivers should be aware that MassDOT continues to conduct additional necessary maintenance activities in the area, including the Ted Williams (I-90) and Tip O’Neill (I-93) tunnels. In most cases, maintenance activities require a reduction in travel lanes to allow for the safe completion of work. Understanding the potential travel impacts created by any reduction in travel lanes, this work is scheduled outside of peak travel hours to minimize the impact on regional travel.
Want more information?
Stay up-to-date and informed by following the @MassDOT Twitter account and Mass 511 for real-time updates, visiting the project website, or emailing us with any questions.
You can also sign up to receive project updates via email by clicking this link: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MADOT/subscriber/new?topic_id=MADOT_187
