The Callahan Tunnel, connecting the North End and East Boston / Logan Airport, will reopen on Monday, March 10th at 5:00 am. The opening is 2 days ahead of the previously announced schedule. See photos from the demolition phase and nearly finished tunnel during the $25 million rehabilitation that rebuilt the concrete flooring and installed side panel brackets. Overnight closures will continue as described in the following news release from MassDOT after today’s announcement.
[hr]
CALLAHAN TUNNEL ON TRACK TO OPEN FOR MONDAY AM COMMUTE
In a visit to the Callahan Tunnel today, MassDOT Secretary & CEO Richard A. Davey and Highway Administrator Frank DePaola announced the closure portion of the rehabilitation project is coming to an end, and barring any unforeseen delays, the Tunnel that carries traffic from Downtown to East Boston and Logan Airport will be back open to vehicles on Monday, March 10, 2014 by 5am.
“The Patrick Administration has made a commitment to invest in the infrastructure we have and to be innovative in how we deliver critical repairs to the roads, bridges and tunnels that support the regional economy,” said Secretary Davey. “To that end, MassDOT is pleased to share that this closure is trending to end several days ahead of schedule.”
“Along with receiving quality work to meet our specifications, reducing the impact this work had on the public has been our highest priority. There were doubts on how the region would respond to the detours and I am thankful to the public and our project team for showing us that the complete closure was the right choice,” said Administrator DePaola.
Work will continue 24/7 through the weekend as contractor McCourt paves the tunnel, installs lane marking and works in coordination with MassDOT to remove the barriers and detours that have been in place since the closure began on December 27.
The $19.3 million contract for McCourt Construction included additional incentive payments of $71,500 each day the tunnel opens prior to the advertised opening date of March 12; McCourt is on track to be eligible for an incentive payment with a Monday opening. The complete budget for the project, funded through toll revenues, is $25 million revised from the earlier $35 million project estimate.
Efforts to return traffic to pre-closure conditions will take place over the course of next week; these efforts that will be noticed by the public are detailed below. Most notably, the effort requires the closure of Exit 24/Gov’t Center on I-93 Southbound on Sunday night into Monday morning and the complete closure of I-93 Southbound through Boston overnight Tuesday into Wednesday.
- On Sunday (3/9) night from 11pm until Monday morning (3/10) at 5am, 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 (3/10), digital message boards along the highway will display that the Callahan Tunnel is open
- Large detour signage will be removed Sunday/Monday (3/10) and the remainder through 3/12
- A complete closure of I-93 Southbound through Boston overnight Tuesday (3/11) at 11pm into Wednesday (3/12) at 5am will allow for the removal of overhead detour signage
- Police detail posts supporting the detour routes will end by Wednesday (3/12)
- On Wednesday morning (3/12), the Commercial Vehicle Only restrictions and the 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 2pm Southbound opening will continue through Friday (3/14), but return to a 3pm opening on Monday, 3/17
- The 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. The detour during those overnight closures will be posted as needed and direct motorists along surface streets and into the Ted Williams Tunnel.
It wasn’t that long ago when the Big Dig’s schedule delays and cost overruns made Boston the laughing stock of the nation. So it’s refreshing to see an infrastructure project that will actually come in under budget and ahead of schedule. Nice work everyone!