big problems getting to Logan Airport, Boston via Rt 90

[justplaingoofy]

I am posted this incase anyone is travelling to Logan...please give yourselves ALOT of extra time!


Just saw this on the news and wanted to post ASAP... Please double check info to make sure what I got is correct, please!

Part of a tunnel has collapsed (only looks like some tiles have fallen in to me from what they've shown) on Rt 90. (Mass Turnpike) which has made major traffic problems. They are going to be giving more info. but they said it could affect traffic in vast ways for the next few days.

There was a tragedy of a woman that passed in this.

 

[bicker]

Tragic news this morning. Beyond that, it isn't clear to me yet just how much impact this will have long-term. I think we're in for many years of horrible surprises from the cheap work done by contractors for the Big Dig, each one looking to stay within the rules, but work the system as effectively as they could, without regard to the possible fatal consequences of their compromises.

 

[debster812]

If you're coming to Logan from the South today your best bets might be either to jump on the Red Line or Commuter Rail to the Blue Line. Or drive to Quincy and take the Harbor Express (boat ride across Quincy Bay, to Boston Harbor and Logan).

I think bicker may be right about there being some more unpleasant surprises.

 

[kaytieeldr]

OR: Red Line or Commuter Rail to South Station, then the Silver Line to the airport. Silver Line stops at each terminal; Blue Line, you have to switch to a (free) internal shuttle at the Airport T station.

 

[seashoreCM]

The T Silver Line runs in the Ted Williams tunnel (the one in question) so if you are using the T, go by the Blue Line.

These tunnels have already had more than their share of leaks so I'm not surprised that parts like tiles are falling down.

One time there were 7 miles of backup on I-90 (Mass Pke) all the way out to the first circumferential highway (Rtes I-85 and 128) and more past that because a T bus caught on fire and the 'pike eastbound was closed where the bus was (5 more miles to the airport).

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Donald is #1]

I am just watching a special on the Boston news about it. It looks like the tunnel will at least be closed until sometime tomorrow. And when they were interviewing the attorney general, it did not sound good at all. He was implying that they have found additional problems with some of the ceiling panels that they have taken down today.

So why did I decide to fly Jet Blue out of Logan? When will Jet Blue come to Manchester?

ALso, my prayers go out to the family of the woman who was killed in this incident last night.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

The pieces that came down were huge.!! That's pretty scary especially if you have to travel in the tunnels everyday. But the long term consquences are going to be bad, I don't know if I ever want to travel into that tunnel again!

 

[justplaingoofy]

We live on Cape Cod and my husband drives to work at Logan every day. That is the way he goes.... what are you gonna do?

 

[debster812]

We live on Cape Cod and my husband drives to work at Logan every day. That is the way he goes.... what are you gonna do?

OOOF every day? That's going to be a tough one. My brother works in Charlestown, and commutes from Hanover. He's thinking of taking his boat to work tomorrow.

I know when I've ridden the Harbor Express out of Quincy, I've seen Logan employees riding to get to work. If it looks like it's going to be horrific for a while, it might be something for your DH to look at.

Here's the link to the Quincy/Logan schedule:

Logan Express Quincy-Logan

They have discounted fares for Logan employees as well.

 

[kaytieeldr]

So why did I decide to fly Jet Blue out of Logan? When will Jet Blue come to Manchester?

You wouldn't be using the connector tunnel in question, or any tunnel built in conjunction with the Big Dig.

The T Silver Line runs in the Ted Williams tunnel (the one in question) so if you are using the T, go by the Blue Line.

Right, but it doesn't use the currently-closed connector tunnel. The Ted Williams Tunnel is open, it's just a problem of getting TO it from the west and south.

 

[magiroux]

Sooo, can you access the tunnel from the North, let's say, Storrow Drive???? I thought I heard that as an alternate route...just not sure where you would pick up the tunnel from there .

What a mess, though. That poor family. I watched a lot of coverage on the news last night. Very sad.

 

[pershing]

My prayers are for the family of that woman!

I was leaning toward Southwest because of prices anyway, but now I think it's a must!

 

[BigTigger]

A sad occurrence given the expense of this project. It isn't the actual Ted Williams tunnel, but rather the tunnel through South Boston that connects to the TW. An interesting tidbit on this tunnel to the tunnel - the engineers from Bechtel had no Boston "old timers" in their midst when engineering the Mass Turnpike connector to the TW tunnel in the early 90's and didn't drill test bores as their geologic maps showed land between the two points except for a small channel near Fort Point. Anyone from Boston born before 1940 could have told them that the area was all filled land and not stable. The end result, when the time came to build the link to the TW, they had to redesign from a supported roadway to a tunnel on piers due to the unstable soil in the road area. This "mistake" cost the taxpayers over $600 million in additional costs and over four years in delays before the connector could be opened. The TW connector was supposed to open in 1996 before the main Big Dig ramped up to allow for traffic to the north shore to divert through the new TW tunnel - it eventually opened in 2000. From 1996 to 200 the $700 million TW tunnel could only be used by buses and taxis and was a white elephant. Even as the new tunnel to the tunnel was being built there were major problems as they contactors couldn't stop the tunnel sections from leaking at the connection points under the Fort Point channel. The other strange thing about this connector tunnel is it's engineered to be three lanes, but is artificially limited to two by having an extra wide breakdown lane. The state police use this lane to run constant speed traps as the speed limit is set at a very low 45 mph.

And this isn't the first tunnel roof collapse on the MA Turnpike, just the first one where someone was killed. About ten years ago, a large section of concrete roof in the Prudential tunnel westbound collapsed due to corrosion of the hangers. If you drive through that tunnel now you can tell the section it happened to (right where the Clarendon St. onramp enters) as there is no roof - just exposed beams that are painted.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

when we go to logan my dad takes us and we go all these crazy back roads thru chelsea we never go in the tunnel
now i dont wanna either
romney needs to get the guy outta there

 

[miss missy]

I was going in that tunnel going to work everyday- NO MORE! That big dig is just a mess with the shortcuts they took! They are treating this as a criminal case, she died because someone cut corners and someone better pay for that!! Just married, the poor husband watches his wife die in the same car he is in, he is ok, the pieces came down on her side only. It is just horrible and Boston is really MAD at this and someone will pay!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Magiroux: Get off the Mass Turnpike to Route 93 North; take exit 26 (Government Center) or exit 23 (Storrow Drive). In either case, follow the signs to the airport/Sumner Tunnel.

Alicnwondrln: Coming from Salisbury, the best route has nothing to do with the tunnel. Take Route 95 south to Route 1; exit at Route 60 in Revere; go 3/4 of the way around the rotary; follow signs to Route 1A South to airport.
Now you have me curious - if you think of it, would you mind asking your dad why he goes through Chelsea? Thanks!

 

[magiroux]

Thanks!!

 

[cranbiz]

OK,

It's still a huge mess from the south and west. I just came home from work (I work in Chelsea and drive in from the south)

I don't expect it to be open soon. The crews were still working in the tunnel either inspecting or removing the ceiling panels.

My best way,

From the south, take the Tobin Bridge to Chelsea, the first exit. Go straight off the ramp to the lights. Turn right and continue thru the lights onto Marginal St to the Chelsea St Bridge. (it's the 2nd bridge crossing Chelsea Creek). Turn right onto the Chelsea St Bridge (or go straight to the PreFlight lot if parking off site) Take your first left onto Curtis St. Curtis St ends on 1A. Turn right and take 1A right into the airport.

It's far better than trying to navigate thru the city when you get off at Government Center exit 23. (I did the Govt. Center exit today at 2pm in it was really horrible)

 

[justplaingoofy]

OOOF every day? That's going to be a tough one. My brother works in Charlestown, and commutes from Hanover. He's thinking of taking his boat to work tomorrow.

I know when I've ridden the Harbor Express out of Quincy, I've seen Logan employees riding to get to work. If it looks like it's going to be horrific for a while, it might be something for your DH to look at.

Here's the link to the Quincy/Logan schedule:

Logan Express Quincy-Logan

They have discounted fares for Logan employees as well.

That was so nice of you to post this. Unfortunately, he has to be at work at 6am. He's an air traffic controller in the tower

 

[goofy4tink]

That was so nice of you to post this. Unfortunately, he has to be at work at 6am. He's an air traffic controller in the tower

Oh terrific...just what he needs...more stress! I love the idea of our air traffic controllers having to go through this kind of mess just before they get to work. Tell him we're all thinking of him!!!