Callahan Tunnel to Close for 3 Months Starting January 2014 for Construction

[PHLBOS]

Granted, next January's a long way off; but it's better to be aware of this ahead of time.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2013/06/20/tunnel-boston-airport-close-for-months/JyjbRUYCur2UjYVlELdfaO/story.html

Article Excerpt:

The Callahan Tunnel, which carries traffic from downtown Boston to Logan International Airport, will close for about three months early next year so engineers can overhaul the deteriorating 52-year-old structure, state transportation officials said Thursday.

The $34.9 million project will include rehabilitation of the tunnel's deck, curb line and gutters, along with installation of new wall panels.

The above-construction project (though temporary) emphasizes another downside of not having direct access to all the harbor tunnels from both directions of I-93.  For those that don't know, the I-93/MA 1A (Exit 24) and I-93/I-90 (Exit 20) interchanges are only partial interchanges. 

With the present interchange ramp set-up, one can't directly access I-90 East (Ted Williams Tunnel) from I-93 South nor one can directly access MA 1A North (Callahan Tunnel) from I-93 North (one could pre-Big-Dig).  The latter ramp-movement connection would've helped when the ceiling along the Liberty Tunnel (I-90) collapsed several years ago.

It's also worth noting that one can't get directly to I-93 South from the Sumner Tunnel (MA 1A South) like one could with the old Central Artery.

Needless to say, this will be the area to avoid early next year.

[deathtopumpkins]

Liberty Tunnel (I-90)

Never heard that name before.

EDIT: Apparently "Liberty Tunnel" was proposed by Romney back in 2003 for the I-93 tunnel (main big dig), but it was named the O'Neill Tunnel instead at the insistence of the state legislature and Congress.

[froggie]

At least they picked a relatively low-traffic time of the year to do it.

[PHLBOS]

Liberty Tunnel (I-90)

Never heard that name before.

EDIT: Apparently "Liberty Tunnel" was proposed by Romney back in 2003 for the I-93 tunnel (main big dig), but it was named the O'Neill Tunnel instead at the insistence of the state legislature and Congress.

The short I-90 tunnel linking the Mass Pike to the Ted Williams Tunnel (that had the ceiling collapse) was originally called O'Neill Tunnel; some road maps even listed it as such.  The above-mentioned legislative action (which shows how petty they really are) swapped the 2 names.  I-93 being O'Neill and the short I-90 tunnel being the Liberty.

[SidS1045]

Needless to say, this will be the area to avoid early next year.

MassDOT said there will be some workarounds for the congestion caused by this and two other transportation projects which will be ongoing simultaneously (the Longfellow Bridge repairs and the closing of the Government Center MBTA stop for renovation; the latter is a major transfer point for Logan Airport-bound passengers).  Not cure-alls by any means, it's still going to be a PIA to move around that area.

The diamond lane from I-93N to I-90E will become unrestricted for the duration of the tunnel closing, and the South Boston bypass road to I-90E, now restricted to commercial vehicles only, will also become unrestricted.

The turnaround at the Allston/Brighton toll complex (interchanges 18-19-20) from I-90W to I-90E will become free and unrestricted (it is now passenger cars only / E-ZPass only), although I doubt anything as long as a semi will be able to make that turn, which is very tight and hemmed in on both sides by Jersey barriers.  This should keep at least some airport-bound traffic off of Storrow Drive, which will be badly backed up because of the Longfellow Bridge work.

One other aspect of the Callahan Tunnel work:  After the tunnel re-opens, it will be closed on overnights for another four months as the last of the work is completed.

An article in today's Boston Globe also noted that in another few years the Sumner Tunnel will need the same work as the Callahan and may be closed for the same duration.  I'm betting the workarounds for that one won't be free, however, as the Sumner now charges passenger cars $3.50, while the Callahan is free.

[Henry]

With all those missing movements, that area will be one big nightmare for motorists.

[PHLBOS]

The diamond lane from I-93N to I-90E will become unrestricted for the duration of the tunnel closing, and the South Boston bypass road to I-90E, now restricted to commercial vehicles only, will also become unrestricted.

The way things are set up now; nobody coming from the south along I-93 northbound uses the Callahan Tunnel anymore to get to Logan and points northeast.  The traffic-related issues surrounding the Callahan closing will impact those coming from the north via I-93 southbound the most.  Opening the South Boston Bypass to all vehicles does nothing for those coming from the Zakim.

One other aspect of the Callahan Tunnel work:  After the tunnel re-opens, it will be closed on overnights for another four months as the last of the work is completed.

I'm well aware of such, but at least that shutdown is not 24/7 during that period.

An article in today's Boston Globe also noted that in another few years the Sumner Tunnel will need the same work as the Callahan and may be closed for the same duration.  I'm betting the workarounds for that one won't be free, however, as the Sumner now charges passenger cars $3.50, while the Callahan is free.

Heading along I-90 West via the Ted Williams Tunnel, one does have direct access to both I-93 North & South after one leaves the TWT; so a Sumner Tunnel shutdown will not be as problematic (it'll still be a pain) as the Callahan's shutdown.

[roadman]

Liberty Tunnel (I-90)

Never heard that name before.

EDIT: Apparently "Liberty Tunnel" was proposed by Romney back in 2003 for the I-93 tunnel (main big dig), but it was named the O'Neill Tunnel instead at the insistence of the state legislature and Congress.

The short I-90 tunnel linking the Mass Pike to the Ted Williams Tunnel (that had the ceiling collapse) was originally called O'Neill Tunnel; some road maps even listed it as such.  The above-mentioned legislative action (which shows how petty they really are) swapped the 2 names.  I-93 being O'Neill and the short I-90 tunnel being the Liberty.

Of course, nobody actually calls it the Liberty Tunnel.  They just refer to it as the Fort Point Channel tunnel.

On a related topic, has anybody noticed that the Route 1 tunnel under City Square in Charlestown (which connects the Tobin Bridge to the I-93 ramps) has never been named for anyone.  To this day, it's still called the City Square Tunnel.  Local traffic reporters also call it the CANA Tunnel in reports (CANA stands for Central Artery North Area, which was the formal name of the first phase of Big Dig work - during which the tunnel was constructed).

[PHLBOS]

On a related topic, has anybody noticed that the Route 1 tunnel under City Square in Charlestown (which connects the Tobin Bridge to the I-93 ramps) has never been named for anyone.  To this day, it's still called the City Square Tunnel.  Local traffic reporters also call it the CANA Tunnel in reports (CANA stands for Central Artery North Area, which was the formal name of the first phase of Big Dig work - during which the tunnel was constructed).

I'm surprised that it wasn't named the Bunker Hill Tunnel.

[Pete from Boston]

Liberty Tunnel (I-90)

Never heard that name before.

EDIT: Apparently "Liberty Tunnel" was proposed by Romney back in 2003 for the I-93 tunnel (main big dig), but it was named the O'Neill Tunnel instead at the insistence of the state legislature and Congress.

The short I-90 tunnel linking the Mass Pike to the Ted Williams Tunnel (that had the ceiling collapse) was originally called O'Neill Tunnel; some road maps even listed it as such.  The above-mentioned legislative action (which shows how petty they really are) swapped the 2 names.  I-93 being O'Neill and the short I-90 tunnel being the Liberty.

This is only part of the story, which (politics aside) shows that Romney loved to go at it as much as the legislators did.  When the tunnels were being built, it had already been decided by the legislature and/or administration that the mainline would be named for O'Neill.  Very early on Romney grabbed the opportunity to remove the name in the name of Liberty.

[mtantillo]

The diamond lane from I-93N to I-90E will become unrestricted for the duration of the tunnel closing, and the South Boston bypass road to I-90E, now restricted to commercial vehicles only, will also become unrestricted.

The way things are set up now; nobody coming from the south along I-93 northbound uses the Callahan Tunnel anymore to get to Logan and points northeast.  The traffic-related issues surrounding the Callahan closing will impact those coming from the north via I-93 southbound the most.  Opening the South Boston Bypass to all vehicles does nothing for those coming from the Zakim.

One other aspect of the Callahan Tunnel work:  After the tunnel re-opens, it will be closed on overnights for another four months as the last of the work is completed.

I'm well aware of such, but at least that shutdown is not 24/7 during that period.

An article in today's Boston Globe also noted that in another few years the Sumner Tunnel will need the same work as the Callahan and may be closed for the same duration.  I'm betting the workarounds for that one won't be free, however, as the Sumner now charges passenger cars $3.50, while the Callahan is free.

Heading along I-90 West via the Ted Williams Tunnel, one does have direct access to both I-93 North & South after one leaves the TWT; so a Sumner Tunnel shutdown will not be as problematic (it'll still be a pain) as the Callahan's shutdown.

I think what they are trying to do is get as many people off of the mainline approaches to the Ted Williams Tunnel (by opening the bypass and HOV), saving mainline capacity for those coming from points north and west.  The bypass road will likely be a primary access route for those coming from the north too, as another article i read states that they will be detoured through the O'Neill Tunnel to the Albany Street exit.  Then presumably onto the frontage road to the bypass road. 

There is a reason why FHWA will not allow partial interchanges on the interstate system anymore, and this is a perfect example of the need for "un-necessary" system redundancy.  Sure, no one takes the Ted Williams from the Zakim to the airport under normal circumstances.  But when there is a construction closure, or an accident, or heck, even local traffic, there is suddenly a need for the missing movements that "no one" uses. 

Also, strangely enough, there is a ramp from the Ted Williams Tunnel to I-93 north.  Not sure why that movement was needed but the reverse was not.  Obviously there is some demand for Ted William - I-93 to/from the north traffic if they built that ramp, so they should have built the reverse movement too. 

My advice for anyone coming to Logan from the north would be to approach via Route 1, Route 60, or Route 16, and save themselves the trouble of downtown Boston.  I'm assuming that MassDOT will be retiming the signals along these routes, as any DOT would typically do as part of a coordinated traffic management plan to get people "around the long way".  Otherwise, though a lot longer, I would probably be tempted to stay on the highways and take I-93 south to I-90 west to the turnaround in Allston/Brighton and then back out.  My guess is that it would add 10-15 minutes of travel time, but be a lot easier to manage large volumes of traffic than anything that goes through a traffic signal. 

Thank goodness they at least picked the dead season when people don't travel to Boston in the middle of winter.  Looks like it should hopefully be open in time for the massive spring break travel season. 

[roadman]

Web page for Callahan Tunnel Project announced:

http://blog.mass.gov/transportation/massdot-highway/stay-informed-callahan-tunnel-project-web-page/

[SidS1045]

I'm assuming that MassDOT will be retiming the signals along these routes, as any DOT would typically do as part of a coordinated traffic management plan to get people "around the long way".

The concept of MassDOT acting like "any DOT" is hysterically funny.

MA-1A north of the airport has some very antiquated traffic signaling systems which are, as far as I'm aware, completely uncoordinated with one another.  Getting them to act as one system is going to be an uphill climb, if they even bother to attempt it.

[southshore720]

I just hope the project stays on/ahead of schedule because it's delaying the MUCH needed and over-delayed overhaul of the MBTA's Government Center station.

[roadman]

I just hope the project stays on/ahead of schedule because it's delaying the MUCH needed and over-delayed overhaul of the MBTA's Government Center station.

With respect, and apart from the accessibility improvements, the sad reality is that new station will be just another overly expensive and unnecessary glass and steel palace the MBTA loves to waste money on (like Kenmore and Charles were).  And there's no plans to actually reduce the current labyrinth of steel girders that make it difficult to board or detrain from streetcars.

[mass_citizen]

I just hope the project stays on/ahead of schedule because it's delaying the MUCH needed and over-delayed overhaul of the MBTA's Government Center station.

With respect, and apart from the accessibility improvements, the sad reality is that new station will be just another overly expensive and unnecessary glass and steel palace the MBTA loves to waste money on (like Kenmore and Charles were).  And there's no plans to actually reduce the current labyrinth of steel girders that make it difficult to board or detrain from streetcars.

Agreed. Most of the MBTA's "overhauls" now are mostly handicap accessibility related as opposed to anything else.

[mtantillo]

Well, it's closed. Traffic is heavy on alternate routes but not mass chaos. Preferred detour for local traffic is 93 south to Exit 18 to the Bypass Road to the Ted Williams tunnel. Took a couple cycles to make the turn onto the bypass road but otherwise it moved well. The bypass road is a neat road, but still posted as "Authorized Vehicles Only". I guess detour traffic is authorized.

The longer distance traffic detour is MA 16 to MA 1A. The signal timing wasn't that great and traffic was kind of heavy all the way to the signal at Suffolk Downs. MassDOT needs to do some tweaking there to accommodate the extra volume.

But the best way to reach the Ted Williams Tunnel is the HOV ramps. No one was using them! From South Station/Kneeland Street the "HOV 2+"
Banners were covered over by "detour" plaques. But from 93 north, the signs still said HOV even though the restrictions have been lifted going to the airport (maybe they kept the banners since they don't want people going from 93 north to South Station without 2 people). Just don't use the South station exit off 93 to get to the HOV ramps....that exit was jammed solid. Better to use Purchase Street ramp.

On 93 south, the Callahan exit is still open, with traffic forced to Govt. center where the ramp splits. Lots of temporary orange signs on 93 south.

[roadman]

As an alternate to the "official' detour route via Route 16, the local traffic reporters have been suggesting that people coming from I-93 north use Route 60 through Malden.  They have also suggested that people with E-ZPass transponders might want to get on the MassPike west and use the "EZ-Pass only" U-turn ramp at the Allston/Brighton tolls, as an alternate to the South Boston Bypass Road.

[roadman]

The Callahan Tunnel re-opened to traffic at 5 AM this morning.  The major work, including a complete re-decking of the roadway and a new ceiling, has been completed.  However, drivers will still be facing several months of overnight and weekend closures so that the wall panels can be installed - which the media has been describing as "minor finish work".

Of course, the fact they decided to replace the wall panels "in kind", as opposed to using tile (like the tunnel was originally finished when constructed), means that in 15 years or so, they'll have to replace the panels again due to the inevitable corrosion of the attachment hardware - this is the reason that some panels fell in late 2012.  It also seems to me that it would have been far more efficient to keep the tunnel closed an extra two weeks or so to install the wall panels instead of requiring drivers to endure weeks (if not months) of sporatic additional closures.

It was also interesting to note this morning that the detour signs are still in place.

[southshore720]

Per MassDOT:

It's going to take a week to return traffic to where it was pre-closure. Below is a list from MassDOT with details, including the closure of Exit 24/Government Center on I-93 Southbound Sunday night into Monday morning. Additionally, I-93 Southbound through Boston will be closed completely overnight Tuesday into Wednesday.

-Sunday night, March 9 from 11 p.m. until Monday morning March 10 at 5 a.m., Exit 24 off of I-93 Southbound, which carries traffic to Government Center, will be closed to allow crews to remove barriers, install lane markings and prepare to open the Callahan Tunnel.

-On Monday morning, March 10, digital message boards along the highway will display that the Callahan Tunnel is open.

-Large detour signage will be removed Sunday/Monday March 10 and the remainder through March 12.

-A complete closure of I-93 Southbound through Boston overnight Tuesday, March 11at 11 p.m. into Wednesday, March 12 at 5 a.m. for the removal of overhead detour signage.

-Police detail posts supporting the detour routes will end by Wednesday, March 12.

-On Wednesday morning March 12, the Commercial Vehicle Only restrictions and HOV lane 2+ restrictions and will once again take effect on the South Boston Bypass Haul Road and the HOV Express Lanes to the Airport.

-The I-93 Southeast Expressway HOV Zipper Lane's early 2 p.m. Southbound opening will continue through Friday, March 14, but return to a 3 p.m. opening on Monday, March 17.

-Traffic cameras that helped officials monitor detour route conditions and messages boards will be removed.

The rehabilitation project allows for single-lane restrictions and complete overnight closures in the months ahead, according to MassDOT. The detour during those overnight closures will be posted as needed and direct motorists along surface streets and into the Ted Williams Tunnel.

[roadman]

Thanks for the additional info southshore720.

[SidS1045]

•A complete closure of I-93 Southbound through Boston overnight Tuesday, March 11at 11 p.m. into Wednesday, March 12 at 5 a.m. for the removal of overhead detour signage.

I wonder if that will include restoring the demountable copy on the BGS on the lower deck of I-93 south in Charlestown, which had the "1A" shield and the "Airport" copy removed while the tunnel was closed.

[southshore720]

I'm surprised that they chose to remove the copy instead of overlaying orange detour signage over the sign so that they wouldn't have to go through all that extra labor...

[roadman]

•A complete closure of I-93 Southbound through Boston overnight Tuesday, March 11at 11 p.m. into Wednesday, March 12 at 5 a.m. for the removal of overhead detour signage.

I wonder if that will include restoring the demountable copy on the BGS on the lower deck of I-93 south in Charlestown, which had the "1A" shield and the "Airport" copy removed while the tunnel was closed.

Given the age of the sign (which was installed in the early CANA days), I wouldn't be surprised if they just replaced the entire panel.  But southshore720 raises an excellent point - why not just put a 'Detour' overlay like they did on the LTGS (long thin green sign) panels for the Callahan exit in the O'Neill Tunnel southbound?

[SidS1045]

But southshore720 raises an excellent point - why not just put a 'Detour' overlay like they did on the LTGS (long thin green sign) panels for the Callahan exit in the O'Neill Tunnel southbound?

Yes, he does make a good point.  Wondered that myself.  Removing the copy and shield is a whole lot more work than just bolting on an overlay.