BOSTON – If you’re flying to or from Boston’s Logan Airport in the next month, be prepared: The Sumner Tunnel is closing again.
When will the Sumner Tunnel close?
The Sumner Tunnel will be closed for a month, from July 5 to August 5, for the second phase of a major restoration project.
“Last year was over the ceiling,” MassDOT Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver told WBZ-TV on Monday. “This year the focus is on the driving deck.”
MassDOT plans to open the tunnel road during the month-long closure. He told WBZ that they are ahead of schedule with preparations for the closure, which allowed them to cancel the last two weekend closures.
The tunnel is guaranteed to reopen on August 5 and any additional work will be completed during scheduled weekend closures from August through Thanksgiving.
“It will be. The life of the tunnel will have been extended by 75 years, which is our main goal here,” Gulliver said.
The tunnel was closed for two months last year.
How to get around Boston
The alternatives are similar to those during the shutdown last summer.
During the closure, the Blue Line is free and all slow zones have been removed. The ferry to East Boston has free or reduced fares, and the commuter rail service from the North Shore also has reduced fares. You can also get free rides on five bus lines.
Tolls in the Ted Williams Tunnel and on the Tobin Bridge will be discounted for all drivers in Massachusetts.
How to get to Logan Airport?
The state has posted a list of detours online for anyone traveling to or from Logan Airport during the closure.
MassDOT expects increased traffic congestion at the airport while the tunnel is closed, so they recommend using public transportation whenever possible.
“If you’re driving to Logan, leave plenty of time,” Gulliver said.
