Sumner Tunnel fully open after years-long construction project

MassDOT said it had five more weekend closures planned for the Sumner Tunnel, but canceled them because construction ended early.

The Sumner Tunnel was closed for 31 days July of 2024, MassDOT said. Kayla Bartkowski For The Boston Globe
Kayla Bartkowski For The Boston Globe sumnertunnel

After two years of on-and-off closures, the Sumner Tunnel has marked its final weekend shutdown, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation said in a statement on Monday.

MassDOT originally planned for five more weekend closures heading into November, but said they are no longer required. Instead, remaining repairs will be completed during “normal off-peak operations,” the statement said.

“We are thrilled that we have been able to deliver this project ahead of schedule,” State Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver said in the statement. He also thanked residents for “patience and support” during the closures.

The construction project, which included 59 weekend shutdowns and two months-long summer closures, aimed to rehabilitate the tunnel and extend its life by 75 years, MassDOT said. Areas of repair included the tunnel ceiling, roadway, walls, wiring, and drainage, the statement said. In addition, MassDOT said the construction considered increasing driver safety and improving climate resilience.

During the project, MassDOT laid 4,307 tons of asphalt paving, fixed 13,516 square yards of concrete roadway, and installed 502 new light fixtures, among other improvements.

“The Sumner Tunnel Restoration Project was a hugely important effort that ensures this vital piece of infrastructure is in the best possible condition going forward,” MassDOT Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt said. “We know this project created inconveniences for the public and particularly the people of East Boston. We thank them for their patience and cooperation.”