Sumner Tunnel, which connects Logan Airport to Cambridge, will close from July 5 to August 31

The Sumner Tunnel, a key connection from Logan Airport and East Boston to downtown Boston and Cambridge, will fully close for restoration work between Wednesday, July 5, and Thursday, August 31, 2023.

Drivers will not be able to travel through the tunnel on Route 1A South, which runs under Boston Harbor and links Logan Airport and East Boston to downtown Boston and I-93. Traffic will be diverted to detour routes. The Callahan Tunnel, which runs in the opposite direction (from the North End to East Boston), will remain open.

While the Sumner Tunnel is closed, traffic will be rerouted to other roads, which will likely impact regional traffic patterns – about 39,000 vehicles travel through the tunnel each day. People driving in Greater Boston should expect increased congestion. Click here to see MassDOT’s suggested detours.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) encourages people to build in extra travel time, adjust what time you leave your house, work from home if you can, and/or consider alternatives to driving.

Mitigation

To help encourage people to take public transit rather than drive into the city, MassDOT will:

• Make trips on the MBTA Blue Line and East Boston Ferry free.
• Make paratransit trips within 3/4 miles of the Blue Line free.
• Reduce fares on the Newburyport/Rockport Commuter Rail line, Logan Express, Winthrop Ferry, and Lynn Ferry.
• Reduce parking fees at some stations north of Boston.
• Add additional service on the SL1, which connects South Station to Logan Airport.
• Discount tolls on the Tobin Bridge and Ted Williams Tunnel for people enrolled in the Resident Discount Program.

Click here for a full list of services and discounts that MassDOT is offering.

The Project

MassDOT is undertaking a top-to-bottom restoration of the Sumner Tunnel to bring it into compliance with current design and safety standards. The restoration will include restoring the ceiling, fireproofing and painting the walls, installing new lights, and improving the roadway surface. Click here to learn more.

Contact Information

Contact the project team at Sumner100@dot.state.ma.us or (508) 510-2920.

Key Links

• Sign up for email updates
• Visit the project website
• Full closure schedule
• Construction updates
• Mitigation during the tunnel closure