Boston Advances Tunnel Work With Overnight Closures
Storrow Drive inbound lanes close 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. for three nights starting Sunday
Storrow Drive Closes Overnight for Tunnel Work
Drivers using Storrow Drive and Soldiers Field Road will face overnight closures starting Sunday as tunnel maintenance work begins. The inbound lanes will close from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. on three consecutive nights, city officials said. Roads will reopen during daytime hours Monday and Tuesday, limiting impact on weekday commuters. The Sunday closure starts after the St. Patrick's Day Parade in South Boston ends.
Detour Routes Through Cambridge Bridges
The closures affect the Storrow Drive tunnel and eastbound Soldiers Field Road lanes from North Harvard Street in Allston to Mugar Way. Drivers will detour via Eliot Bridge, crossing Anderson Bridge to Memorial Drive in Cambridge, then using Longfellow Bridge into Beacon Hill. Police details will be stationed throughout the area, and message boards will mark traffic patterns. City officials advise drivers to reduce speed and use caution when traveling through the detour routes.
Soil Testing Adds Outbound Lane Closure
Separate soil testing work will close an outbound lane of Storrow Drive past the BU Bridge nightly from Sunday through Thursday, March 26. The work schedule is weather-dependent and may change, particularly with a rainstorm expected Sunday night into Monday morning. Officials didn't specify what types of tunnel maintenance will be performed during the three-night closure period. The city hasn't said whether additional overnight closures will be needed after this initial work period.
Three-Night Timeline Starts After Parade
The overnight closures run Sunday to Monday, Monday to Tuesday, and Tuesday to Wednesday, with work scheduled from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night. The Sunday closure begins after the St. Patrick's Day Parade, which starts at 11:30 a.m. in South Boston. Officials timed the work to avoid conflicts with the parade and minimize disruption to daytime traffic. The weather-dependent schedule means drivers should check for updates before traveling, though officials haven't specified how they'll communicate any changes.
Drivers Face Extended Detours During Work
The closures will force inbound drivers onto a lengthy detour through Cambridge, adding significant time to trips during overnight hours. Commuters who typically use Storrow Drive or Soldiers Field Road after 9 p.m. should plan extra travel time or consider alternative routes. The outbound lane closure for soil testing will continue through March 26, affecting drivers for a full week. Moovit provides real-time traffic updates and alternative route suggestions for Boston-area drivers navigating the closures.
