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Sumner Tunnel to be shut this weekend in first of 36 weekend closures for repairs
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Google Maps says detouring to
Google Maps says detouring to the Ted by heading down to Frontage Road/Albany and back up adds 7 minutes. Or coming from Storrow eastbound, it adds 5 minutes via Arlington Street to Herald Street to Frontage/Albany. That doesn't seem too bad. Though the detour route could get backed up if they don't adjust the traffic lights and lanes to account for the extra traffic.
It's kind of unfortunate that they didn't build access to the Ted from 93 southbound or Herald Street.
To or from?
Aren't those directions that you mentioned about going TO the airport? The Callahan is staying open. It's getting FROM the airport in the Sumner that's the issue. Apologies if I'm misunderstanding.
Whoops, you're right.
Whoops, you're right.
In this direction, there's a direct connection from the Ted to 93 North, so it only adds 2 minutes vs the Sumner. Obviously more if there's traffic.
Huh?
Sounds like you're already in Boston and looking to head north. If so, you don't need to detour down to the Ted, as the Callahan Tunnel (outbound from Boston) is staying open.
The lack of access from I-93 southbound to the Willliams Tunnel and the lack of access from I-93 northbound to the Callahan Tunnel were both deliberate, and were decided on very early in the design process for the Artery/Tunnel project. The intent was to reduce the amount of traffic using the core section of the O'Neill Tunnel.
Here's the mitigation plan
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The T runs an early-morning 117 bus from Chelsea and Eastie, which connects at Haymarket to early trains to the LMA (there's a single early D train which runs from Union to make this connection, as well as an E train). With the tunnel closed, this bus will have to run via the Ted, which will add 10 minutes to the travel time, which will put it into Haymarket 5 minutes after that connection. Probably the usual "buses are experiencing delays" for months on end as essential workers deal with 15-minute longer commutes.
They should probably all just buy cars or take Ubers right?
What?
You expect the T to adjust its schedule so essential workers can make it to work on time??? LOL!
The thing is
They actually do this! The early-morning D train from Union is specifically to connect to this bus. Someone knows this exists … but then the message gets lost in 10PP Telephone.
Sure
They made a schedule adjustment once. You expect them to figure it out again???
Did you write to them?
Did you write to them?
The 117 arrives at 4:55 am. The D leaves Haymarket at 5:02. The next D is at 5:40 am. That's a problem right there. What happens if the 117 is late on a normal day?
With any luck, the opening of the Medford branch of the GLX will mean more frequent early service on the westbound D.
Jeebus....
Route 99/Sullivan is parking lot...
Now this, how about shutting the Tobin for sh!ts and giggles?
Ferry service needed
On weekends when the tunnel is closed, the state should bring back the ferry that they ran during the recent Blue Line closure.
Why? The Blue Line is faster
Why? The Blue Line is faster and more frequent. And the majority of people driving through the Sumner aren't coming from the East Boston waterfront anyway.
That won't help
People who would normally take the Sumner aren't going to drive to Lewis Wharf, park (where?!?!), and get on a ferry. The Blue Line isn't overcrowded on the weekend, so it can handle the people who might choose transit instead and it generally offers better connectivity.
The ferry service during the Blue Line closure carried some of the passengers who would have otherwise been forced to take the buses if traveling between downtown and Jeffries Point.
Why not make the Callahan tunnel two-way
during hours when the Sumner is closed? I've seen this done in the past (though that was pre-Big Dig)
Probably more trouble that it
Probably more trouble that it's worth, since the Ted is a good alternate. Two-way operation would disrupt outbound traffic, and not provide that much inbound capacity.
Not feasible anymore
Now that the downtown approaches tie directly to I-93 with dedicated ramps. You'd end up driving the wrong way on I-93 if trying to get there from the Callahan. And part of the point of the Ted Williams Tunnel was to provide an alternate route when the Sumner or Callahan would have to close for repairs or due to an accident.
I think if they made the
I think if they made the Callahan two-way, inbound traffic would end up at the New Chardon on-ramp rather than the wrong way on 93. The New Chardon on-ramp joins the Callahan on the left: https://goo.gl/maps/dVbWxWnHCA6DgCgm6
Maybe they even designed it this way on purpose.