Sumner Tunnel in Boston reopens Friday: Here are 7 things you need to know

After eight weeks of being closed, the Sumner Tunnel in Boston is reopening ahead of one of the most traveled holiday weekends in the country.

The Sumner Tunnel, which is situated between East Boston and Boston’s North End, was closed from July 5 to Aug. 31. This was part of a restoration project that required the tunnel to be closed to traffic periodically.

Before people jump at the opportunity to drive straight through the tunnel instead of taking one of its many detours, there are a few things they should know.

The tunnel is slated to reopen Friday, Sept. 1 at 5 a.m., MassDOT said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The #SumnerTunnel in #Boston is reopening tomorrow, September 1, at 5:00am. #MassDOT crews continue to finalize work and clean and prepare the tunnel for travel. Weekend Sumner Tunnel work will resume in the fall. Check https://t.co/EZdZn7URNH for future project updates. pic.twitter.com/tTbtL51zyz

MassDOT said the tunnel will close again from July to August of 2024. A specific starting date has yet to be announced and traffic detours will be in place, MassDOT said on its website.

Drivers traveling through the tunnel for the rest of this year are also not completely out of the woods.

The Sumner Tunnel will periodically be closed on weekends from fall 2023 to summer 2024, Massachusetts State Police and MassDOT said.

Traffic detours will also be in place during this time. A schedule of these closures has yet to be announced.

Opening the Sumner Tunnel is like opening the flood gates for holiday weekend travel.

Despite this, MassDOT is encouraging anyone traveling during Labor Day weekend to use private or public transportation, especially if they are headed to Logan Airport.

Those options include the Blue Line, Silver Line and the Logan Express, which has departures from Braintree, Framingham, Peabody, Woburn and Back Bay. Riders are also encouraged to get dropped off at these sites as parking lots could swell during the holiday weekend.

Those heading to any neighboring states can also rely on private bus services, such as Peter Pan or Greyhound. MassDOT also has a list of detours going to and from Logan Airport on its website.

With the reopening of the Sumner Tunnel, T riders will again have to pay for parking and tickets starting Friday.

This applies to the Blue Line, the Newburyport/Rockport line of the Commuter Rail, the RIDE and several bus lines and ferries, MassDOT said on X.

REMINDER: Regular fare collection resumes systemwide tomorrow, September 1. All fare mitigations for @MassDOT Sumner Tunnel closure & systemwide slow zones will end. We encourage riders to load their CharlieCard/Ticket with cash value or passes in advance for faster boarding. pic.twitter.com/UFC6UGaZFi

Built in the 1930s, the Sumner Tunnel is the first traffic tunnel in Massachusetts, according to MassDOT. After nearly a century of service, traffic officials decided it was time for an upgrade.

The restoration project included the removal of about 75 percent of the tunnel’s ceiling to allow for a less claustrophobic feel, The Boston Globe Reported.

Crews also installed fireproof wall panels, repaired air ducts and put down a new layer of concrete and asphalt. There will also be new lighting, security cameras and an upgrade to the tunnel’s computer system, the Globe said.

It appears it has, according to a MassDOT official who spoke to the Boston Globe.

MassDOT spokesperson Marshall Hook said nearly all the work planned for July and August was finished as of Tuesday.

“As of yesterday afternoon, 95.6 [percent] of the planned work has been completed, with 94.8 [percent] of the scheduled closure time passed,” Hook told the outlet.

Massachusetts State Police also told MassLive that crews will be working throughout the day Thursday and overnight for the final touches on the project.

More information, including updates, on the Sumner Tunnel Restoration Project can be found online.

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