As the city of Boston prepares throughout August for the July 4th closure of the Sumner Tunnel at 11:59 p.m., it’s important for travelers from Massachusetts to know what they’ll be up to in terms of traffic in the next two months expected in the region.
The Sumner Tunnel, a vital part of transportation to downtown Boston and Boston Logan International Airport, will remain closed until August 31 for much-needed repairs to the tunnel.
The decision was made by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and will have a significant impact on commuters in and out of the northern parts of Boston, as well as Logan Airport passengers.
Weekend lockdowns have been in place for some time and will resume after the month-long closure through Aug. 31, the Massachusetts State Police said.
- Continue reading: Traffic in Boston is already bad; The summer Sumner Tunnel project won’t help, officials say
According to police, the greatest impact on traffic is expected to be felt on Route 1A. It’s the only direct route to Logan from north of town.
Logan officials said they were allowing for an additional two hours of commuting to and from the airport due to the closure, and offered several alternative routes and transportation options while on site.
Police also anticipate there will be more traffic than normal at the Logan terminals at times and said they will work to get vehicles out of the terminals as soon as possible to prevent a congestion.
The police said there will also be severe traffic delays on the Tobin Bridge and in the Ted Williams Tunnel at times, as motorists use them as alternative routes.
- Continue reading: The MBTA Blue Line will be free in July and August with the closure of the Sumner Tunnel
In order to alleviate the expected immense traffic congestion, the state police will have more staff in evening and day shifts every day from July 4, the department said. This will ease traffic flow through the airport and through several major intersections of back roads along Route 1A, police said.
The department advised drivers to allow extra time and seek alternate modes of transportation if possible, and said the worst traffic may not be seen until the following week, as many people may be on vacation or have already flown out of Logan.