Sumner Tunnel

Sumner Tunnel

Exit from the tunnel in downtown Boston
Overview
Location Boston, Massachusetts
Status Open
Start East Boston
End Downtown Boston
Operation
Constructed March 30, 1931- June 30, 1934
Opened June 30, 1934 (June 30, 1934)
Owner Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Operator Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Traffic Automotive
Toll Between $0.20 and $2.05 both directions depending on how you pay and where you live[1]
Technical
Length 1.07 mi (1.72 km)
Number of lanes 2
Operating speed 40 mph (64 km/h)
Tunnel clearance 13.4 ft (4.1 m)
Width 22.2 ft (6.8 m)

The Sumner Tunnel is a road tunnel in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It carries traffic under Boston Harbor in one direction, from Logan International Airport and Route 1A in East Boston. The tunnel originally deposited traffic at the west side of the North End but with the completion of the Big Dig, it was modified to have two exits. One travels under I-93 and emerges on the west side of I-93 near Haymarket Subway Station. The other exit routes traffic to I-93 North and Storrow Drive. Traffic headed for I-93 South and the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) West is normally routed to the Ted Williams Tunnel.

History

Showing the Sumner Tunnel (in red)
An old shield for the Sumner Tunnel, with the Masspike hat. This shield is no longer used.

The Sumner Tunnel was opened on June 30, 1934. It carried traffic in both directions until the opening of the parallel Callahan Tunnel in 1961. The Sumner Tunnel is named for William H. Sumner, the son of Governor Increase Sumner.

As of 2015, a toll of $3.50 for non-commercial two-axle vehicles and $5.25 for commercial vehicles (including taxis) is collected in the Boston-bound direction, with a discount of $0.50 for users of the E-ZPass electronic toll collection system with a Massachusetts account. For East Boston residents, a discount is in effect using an E-ZPass transponder, costing $0.40. On November 14, 2008, the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority voted in favor of a proposed toll hike which would double the toll to $7.00 for non-commercial vehicles. E-ZPass users would receive a $1.00 discount and commercial vehicles would end up having to pay $9.00. This vote was later rescinded following a vote approving a 1.25% sales tax increase.

In 2016, booth-less toll systems were installed in both directions, entering the Sumner Tunnel and exiting the Callahan Tunnel as part of a plan to revolutionize toll collection the Boston area.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Toll Rates". EZDRIVEMA. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  2. ↑ "Toll Rates". EZDRIVEMA. Retrieved 2 December 2016.

See also

Coordinates: 42°22′05″N 71°2′47″W / 42.36806°N 71.04639°W / 42.36806; -71.04639

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/3/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.