Boston’s Sumner Tunnel is now operational once more. Monday morning at 4:20 a.m., the Massachusetts Department of Transportation reopened the tunnel in time for the morning rush hour commute.
How come the Sumner Tunnel was shut down?
Since July 5, the Sumner Tunnel has been totally closed in preparation for the next stage of the rehabilitation project. Before the road was repaved, the asphalt was removed and the concrete was restored. Additionally, drains were changed.
Throughout the following three weekends and on occasion throughout the fall, the tunnel will remain closed. It is anticipated that the Sumner Tunnel project will be completed by November. The objective is to give the tunnel an additional 75 years of life.
The tunnel, which is almost a century old, had its roof and walls renovated last year, which required a two-month closure. 146 ceiling slabs, 711 concrete arches, 500 new lights, and updated fireproofing were all part of the project.
East Boston grievances
After more than a year of intermittent closures, the people of East Boston are hoping that the effort has been worthwhile.
“It’s been less than thrilling having to go all the way around, so it just added 35 minutes or 40 minutes to the commute every time I need to drive in. But I appreciate the fact that the Blue Line’s been free, so it’s somewhat made it easier,” East Boston resident Jonathan stated. “I’ll go for a ride (Monday) and see all the new things that are in the Sumner Tunnel, I don’t know if they painted it but I don’t think it’s going to change anything. Traffic is traffic, we live in Boston.”
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According to Rayna Smith, she worries that the project is taking too long.
Smith stated that, “Constant detours everytime. I don’t think our Apple Maps, Google Maps, I don’t think anything has picked up on the Sumner Tunnel being closed. That’s kind of inconvenient for the people who work, especially after the summer.”
