Traveling to Logan Airport? A guide to navigating detours during full closure of Sumner Tunnel

BOSTON — Travel in and around Boston is expected to be nightmarish now that the Sumner Tunnel is completely closed for necessary repair work.

At midnight on Wednesday, July 5, the tunnel closed to traffic through Aug. 31, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. It will be off-limits to drivers 24/7 during that time period.

The tunnel, situated between East Boston and the North End, takes drivers from Logan Airport to I-93 in Boston and points north. During the closure, traffic will be diverted through other signed detour routes.

How will my travel be affected?

Closures will affect travelers coming from Logan Airport/East Boston to Boston and points north.

If traveling to Logan Airport/ East Boston, continue using the Callahan Tunnel or the Ted Williams Tunnel.

Add additional travel time to both trips in case of congestion. If you are traveling from the airport, expect delays.

Traveling to Logan Airport and East Boston:

Roadways leading to Logan Airport and East Boston are open and available for travel during the Sumner Tunnel/Route 1A South closures. Drivers should follow their normal route:

• From points North: Take I-93 South to Route 1A North/Callahan Tunnel or take US-1 South
• From Maine/ Portsmouth, NH/ Newburyport, MA: Take I-95 to Route 1 south, and then take Route 60 to Route 16
• From points South: Take I-93 North to Route 1A North/ Callahan Tunnel, or take I-90 East/Ted Williams Tunnel
• From points West: Take I-90 East and use the Ted Williams Tunnel

Traveling from Logan Airport and East Boston:

• To points North, including Maine/ Portsmouth, NH/ Newburyport, MA: Take MA-1A North to US-1 North
• To points South: Take I-90 West/Ted Williams Tunnel to I-93 South
• To points West: Take I-90 West/Ted Williams Tunnel

Logan Airport travel tips

To reduce traffic congestion during tunnel closures, MassDOT encourages those traveling to or from Logan Airport to leave their cars at home and explore Massport’s list of transportation options to and from Logan, which include: the Blue Line or Silver Line, the Logan Express, the Logan Water Taxi, or the Hingham/Hull Ferry.

Vehicles leaving Logan Airport should be aware of ongoing traffic impacts during the Sumner Tunnel closures. Periodically, Massport will close the ramp connecting the airport to Ted Williams Tunnel and direct traffic to the Sumner Tunnel to minimize the backup on the mainline of I-90. Additionally, vehicles traveling on Route 1A/I-90 westbound towards Ted Williams Tunnel should expect one less through lane on I-90 westbound. On Saturdays and Sundays between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m., one lane is converted to a merge lane to help vehicles leaving Logan Airport to freely join the I-90 mainline. While these changes do not eliminate congestion, they are implemented in an effort to balance traffic volumes during weekend closures of the Sumner Tunnel and provide safer driving conditions inside the Ted Williams Tunnel.

Detour options

In coordination with local agencies and emergency services, the following detours were determined as the most efficient options to divert traffic away from the Sumner Tunnel while it is closed. When possible, it is highly encouraged to utilize public transit options.

Drivers from East Boston seeking to reach the Downtown Boston area will be rerouted to I-90/Ted Williams Tunnel via Bennington Street and onto I-93.

Drivers leaving Logan Airport seeking to reach the Downtown Boston area will be rerouted to I-90/Ted Williams Tunnel and onto I-93.

Drivers leaving Logan Airport seeking to reach I-93 North should:

• Follow signs for Route 1A North to Bell Circle Rotary.
• Follow signs to Route 16 to Route 1 south.
• Proceed over Route 1/Tobin Bridge and follow signs to Rutherford Avenue.
• Continue through Sullivan Square and onto I-93 North.

Drivers traveling along Route 1 south towards Downtown Boston are encouraged to divert to Route 1A in Revere at the Bell Circle Rotary. Once on Route 1A, drivers will be rerouted to I-90/Ted Williams Tunnel and onto I-93.

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