Traffic Advisory: Overnight Ramp Closures Tonight Through Thursday 6/22

Please be advised that starting Tuesday, June 20th through Thursday, June 22nd, there will be overnight road closures and lane restrictions in the neighborhood. Descriptions with detours are below.

Detour - Tuesday 6/20 through Thursday 6/22:

• From I-90 East: Exit 135 (old Exit 25), the Turnpike off-ramp from I-90 East to Congress Street will be closed (Ramps E/C) with a detour via the South Boston Bypass Road.
• Massport Haul Road: access to South Boston Bypass Road and I-90 East Ramp will be closed with detours via Summer Street and Congress Street.
• From I-93 North: The I-90 East exit from I-93 North to South Boston/Seaport will have a double right lane closure. The right lane restriction will be moved to the left side once right-side work is complete. One lane of traffic will remain open at all times.

Timing:

• From Tuesday, June 20th from 9:00 pm to Wednesday, June 21st at 5:00 am
• From Wednesday, June 21st from 9:00 pm to Thursday. June 22nd at 5:00 am
• From Thursday, June 22nd from 9:00 pm to Fri. 6/23 5:00 am

Detour - Wednesday 6/21 & Thursday 6/22:

• The Exit 135 off-ramp from I-90 West to South Boston will be closed overnight on Wednesday, June 21st and Thursday, June 22nd from 11pm until 5am each night, with a detour via I-93 North, Purchase Street, and Congress Street.

Timing:

• Wednesday, June 21st 11:00pm until 5:00am Thursday June 22nd. 
• Thursday, June 22nd 11:00pm until 5:00am Friday June 23rd.

Traffic Advisory: Overnight Haul Road Closure Starting Today

The following traffic advisory is courtesy of the Seaport TMA. 

Please be advised that starting Tuesday, May 30 through Friday June 2, 2023, the westbound segment of Massport Haul Road to South Boston Bypass Road and I-90 East will be closed during overnight hours. A description for the overnight closure and detour is below.

Haul Road Closure Timing:

• Tues. 5/30 from 9 p.m. to Wed. 5/31 5 a.m.
• Wed. 5/31 from 9 p.m. to Thurs. 6/1 5 a.m.
• Thurs. 6/1 from 9 p.m. to Fri. 6/2 5 a.m.
• Friday 6/2 from 9 p.m. to Sat. 6/3 5 a.m.

The detour map and description are below. This closure is required to install permanent signage.

As always, when driving through and near the work zone, we ask drivers to pay extra attention to speed, lane markings, detour signage, barriers, police details, and construction workers.

Contact the Project

On-site construction concerns: (508) 962-8091

Questions via email: construction@bostonseaport.xyz

Boston Seaport general information: www.bostonseaport.xyz

Overnight Haul Road Closures This Wednesday & Thursday

On Wednesday, October 12 and Thursday, October 13, the westbound segment of Massport Haul Road to South Boston Bypass Road and I-90 East will be closed during overnight hours. 

Haul Road Closures:

• Wed. 10/12/22 from 9 p.m. to Thurs. 10/13 5 a.m.
• Thurs. 10/13/22 from 9 p.m. to Fri. 10/14 5 a.m.

Detour maps and descriptions below. These closures are required to setup expanded workzones in a safe and controlled manner, requiring access from the highway ramps.

As always, when driving through and near the work zone, we ask drivers to pay extra attention to speed, lane markings, detour signage, barriers, police details, and construction workers.

Contact the Project

On-site Construction Concerns: (508) 962-8091
Questions via email: construction@bostonseaport.xyz
Boston Seaport General Information: www.bostonseaport.xyz

Westbound Haul Rd/Bypass Rd Closure Tonight

Seaport TMA advisory that on Wednesday evening, September 15, 2021 into the morning of Thursday September 16 the westbound Massport Haul Road to South Boston Bypass Road and I-90 East will be closed for overhead construction.

Timing: Wed. 9/15 from 9:00 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Purpose: To install electronic signage including hanging, electrical wiring, and testing that cannot be done safely and efficiently above live traffic.

Detour: Access to I-90 East will be detoured to the South Boston Bypass Road on-ramp via the Haul Road eastbound and Congress Street. Drivers from D Street southbound will use Summer Street and Pumphouse Road to access the detour at Haul Road eastbound. Drivers from D Street northbound will continue on D Street to access the detour on Congress Street. Detour routes will be fully marked with signage. 

When driving through and near the work zone, we ask drivers to pay extra attention to speed, lane markings, traffic signage, barriers, police details, and construction workers. Pedestrian access will be maintained around the site.

Contact

On-site Construction Concerns: (508) 962-8091

Questions via email: construction@bostonseaport.xyz

ByPass Road Pilot Update

MassDOT presented Roadways Improvement Projects occurring in Fort Point and the Seaport at FPNA's (Fort Point Neighborhood Association) January 29, 2019 neighborhood gathering.  Part of the presentation focused on the South Boston Bypass Road (SBBR) Pilot, which started October 15, 2018 and will conclude September 30, 2019.

Will the SBBR be open permanently to non commercial vehicles? Currently, the pilot only allows for a one year opening of the road to all vehicles.  Per the MEPA (Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office) Advisory Opinion/Approval, the pilot can only be operation for one year and must be competed on September 30, 2019.  Beginning October 1, 2019, the road must revert back to commercial vehicle use only. Once the pilot is completed and all vehicle data counts are processed, a report of the findings will be presented to Secretary Pollack.  The Secretary will determine if MassDOT will pursue permitting through the MEPA process to ask to have the commercial vehicle only use lifted.

Is there any update to report on the pilot? 

Vehicle count data has been taken for the first three months of the pilot on the bypass road and is as follows:

• Inbound to South Boston from Frontage Road to Cypher/Richards Street – increase of 200 vehicles in the AM peak hour (8 am), increase of 95 vehicles in the PM peak hour (5 pm)
• Inbound to South Boston from Cypher/Richards Street to Frontage Road – increase of 155 vehicles in the AM peak hour (8 am), increase of 90 vehicles in the PM peak hour (5 pm)
• Inbound to South Boston from Frontage Road to Haul Road – increase of 1 minute and 10 seconds of travel time in the AM peak hour (8 am), increase of 39 seconds of travel time in the PM peak hour (5 pm).

The increase in traffic volumes is relatively low and is not having a significant impact to the commercial travel along the route. 

Counts will be taken again in March, and will include some specific intersections within South Boston

Might the pilot be expanded to bi-directional traffic? Due to the existing congestion on the Hegarty Overpass between the traffic signals at the North and Southbound Frontage Roads and approaching the South Bay interchange, there is no available lane capacity to increase the traffic in this direction. Allowing this movement may create significant queuing along the bypass road and increased travel time to access I-93. 

Community Feedback

As part of the commitment to MEPA during the pilot program, MassDOT is working to collect feedback on the use of the bypass road by the general public.  MassDOT is asking the public to reach out and provide any type of feedback on their experience using the roadway. Click here to provide feedback. MassDOT and the MEPA office will use all the feedback received as part of the analysis related to the future use of the South Boston Bypass Road.

Related Posts

2019 Fort Point Seaport Neighborhood Gathering Kickoff

Join FPNA
for

2019 Fort Point Seaport Neighborhood
Gathering Kickoff

Tuesday, January 29
6 pm - 8 pm
Capital One Café
2nd floor, 57 Seaport Blvd.

featuring
MassDOT 
Roadway Improvements Project
Cypher St from A to E, Cypher St Extension from D to E
Richards St, Fargo St, D St, Bypass Rd, E St & Summer St.

introducing
SPIN Boston

original ping pong social club
30 - 40 Melcher St.

with

 Neighborhood Updates & Discussion


Special thanks to Capital One Café for hosting.

*** treats & refreshments courtesy of Capital One Café
& their partners***

originally published 1.22.19

MassDOT Pilot Opens South Boston Bypass Road To All Drivers Monday

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation today announced that beginning Monday, October 15, 2018, all traffic will be able to use sections of the South Boston Bypass Road and a portion of the I-93 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV lane) in South Boston at all times for a 12-month period. This pilot program will provide another route option for drivers traveling inbound to the South Boston area from I-93 northbound and members of the public are advised that the South Boston Bypass Road can be accessed via Exit 18 on I-93. This pilot program is being launched following approval by the Massachusetts Environment Policy Act (MEPA) office which issued an Advisory Opinion at the request of MassDOT. 

The full traffic pattern changes that will be implemented 24/7 through this pilot program include allowing unrestricted eastbound travel on the South Boston Bypass Road between I-93 Frontage Road and Cypher Street/Richards Street and allowing unrestricted travel in both directions of the South Boston Bypass Road between Cypher Street/Richards Street and West Service Road. Additionally, access to the I-93 HOV lane from the following areas leading to Logan International Airport will also be unrestricted: the I-93 northbound mainline, I-93 northbound Frontage Road, and Kneeland Street/Lincoln Street.

“We are pleased to be conducting this pilot program of allowing general traffic on sections of the South Boston Bypass Road and the I-93 HOV lane so we can analyze the impacts to traffic flow and freight operations throughout the South Boston region over a broad time frame,” said Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. “We encourage members of the public to consider using this new route option if they are traveling into the Fort Point and Seaport area or carpooling to Logan Airport on I-93, and we look forward to learning the results of this pilot program.” 

“I am cautiously optimistic that additional drivers will be able to use the bypass road to help alleviate the increase of traffic in the South Boston area,” said Congressman Stephen F. Lynch. “This is a pilot program and we will monitor the results as we adjust to the robust growth in the Financial District and the South Boston Seaport areas. I do appreciate the efforts of Stephanie Pollack and MassDOT for their proactive approach to help better manage our busy streets.”

“I am glad that MassDOT has decided to expand this pilot program,” said State Senator Nick Collins. “It is important that we gather as much data as possible and explore all options to provide relief from the cut-through traffic that is hammering our neighborhoods in Boston. Suburban commuters will now have another option to get to the waterfront and downtown from the highway without cutting through residential communities like South Boston. I want to thank the Baker Administration for recognizing that and taking this step in the right direction.”

The pilot will expand upon the previous 6-month pilot carried out by MassDOT from August 2015 through February 2016 which implemented similar traffic pattern changes including allowing unrestricted eastbound travel on the South Boston Bypass Road during peak commuting hours. Given the economic growth of the South Boston waterfront in recent years and corresponding changes in traffic levels, the pilot program will allow further data collection so long-term decisions can be made.

Throughout the pilot program, MassDOT will analyze the impact of these traffic access changes on commuters, residents, businesses and the local environment. Upon completion of the pilot in the fall of 2019, MassDOT will return the South Boston Bypass Road and HOV access roadways to previous limited traffic conditions and evaluate the pilot program findings.

“The South Boston Waterfront is a vital commercial and residential asset for the City of Boston and we have been collaborating with MassDOT and the community to address the transportation issues that are a result of the area’s popularity,” said Boston Transportation Commissioner Gina N. Fiandaca.  “We are hopeful that the pilot program will prove to relieve congestion and improve roadway safety in the South Boston Waterfront as well as on streets in the adjacent South Boston neighborhood.”

“A Better City and our Seaport members has been a strong advocate for moving forward with this year-long Haul Road opening pilot,” said A Better City President and CEO Richard A. Dimino. “We fully support and are pleased that MassDOT is moving forward with this traffic relief test and initiative.”

“We commend MassDOT for moving forward with the South Boston Bypass Road Pilot Re-Evaluation Project,” said Seaport Transportation Management Association Executive Director Patrick Sullivan. “This project is another example of the strong collaborative effort between MassDOT, the City of Boston, Massport, and our local elected officials to pursue a variety of multi-modal transportation improvements aimed at improving mobility in the South Boston Waterfront.”

Current restrictions to traffic are in place per the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) issued in 1986 for the Third Harbor Tunnel/Central Artery Tunnel Project which required that the road be a commercial vehicle route upon project completion.

Potential permanent changes to traffic access throughout this area will require coordination and approval from numerous state and federal agencies including Massport, MEPA, the National Environmental Policy Act process, and the Federal Highway Administration. Any permanent change would require the filing of a Notice of Project Change over the original Final Environmental Impact Report.

Contact Donny Dailey at MassDOT with any questions.

Related Posts

Springing Into Action

Updated 4/5/16
Fort Point is getting cleaner this spring. Street cleaning starts today on A Street street. In addition, Binford Street (from A Street to the Fort Point Channel) will have street cleaning every Tuesday 9 am - 1 pm from April through November. The odd side of the street (closest to Gillette) will be the first and third Tuesdays starting April 19th due to the April 4th snowfall and the even side is the second and fourth Tuesdays starting April 12th. 

The Fort Point Neighborhood Association is holding Fort Point's 12th annual Boston Shines April 29th - April 30th. Fort Point businesses are invited to participate on Friday, April 29th from 11 am - 2 pm and Fort Point Residents on Saturday, April 30th from 10 am - 3 pm. Boston Shines Fort Point style creates a living tapestry of flowers, vines, and community along A Street. Volunteer today and help beautify your neighborhood. No green thumb required. If you have any questions, please contact FPNA.

Are your New Year's resolutions a distant memory? If getting more involved with your community is still pending on your list, there is plenty to offer on Civic Engagement Tuesday, April 5th, There are public meetings to envision a new Dot Ave Corridor, discover whether the South Boston Bypass Rd could re-open to non-commercial traffic and talk about the benefits and impacts of the Boston Grand Prix.

Civic Engagement Tuesday: April 5, 2016

Boston Grand Prix City Council Hearing: Councillor Linehan called for a hearing to be held on the Boston Grand Prix stating the importance for City Council to give residents a voice in the process and examine the impacts on the neighborhood. The Committee of Arts, Culture & Special Events will be holding the public meeting (docket # 0442) at  City Hall, Iannella Chamber, 5th Floor at 3 pm. You may also submit written comments and questions to CCC.AC@boston.gov and Councilor Linehan prior to the hearing. Councilor Michelle Wu is taking questions beforehand on twitter. Tweet #QsforIndyCar @wutrain. Written comments may be part of the public record and are available to all City Councillors in advance of the hearing. Attend or watch live on Comcast 8/RCN 82 or on the web.

South Boston Bypass Road & HOV Pilot Program Results & Feedback Meeting: The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) invites the public to attend a meeting to provide South Boston Bypass Road and HOV Pilot program results and gather public feedback. The public meeting will be held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, room 154 from 6 pm – 8 pm.

Dot Ave Corridor: Draft Plan Elements & Implementation Strategies The Dot Ave Plan is an opportunity to think strategically about the types of uses and scale of development best suited for the future of this transit corridor. The goal of the planning study is to create a vision with the community and to establish guidelines that will result in a comprehensive plan that informs new zoning for future development. This is the seventh in a series of workshops. The workshop will take place at Iron Worker Local 7 located at 195 Old Colony 
from 6 pm – 8 pm.   

originally posted 4.1.16

South Boston Bypass Road Public Meeting

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) invites you to attend a public meeting regarding South Boston Bypass Road and HOV Pilot on:

TUESDAY, APRIL 5th

6 PM - 8 PM 

Boston Convention and Exhibition Center

Room 154

415 Summer Street

On behalf of the South Boston Waterfront Sustainable Transportation Committee, MassDOT is hosting a public meeting to review the results of the South Boston Bypass Road and HOV 6-month pilot program.  The meeting will be an opportunity for to review the pre, during, and post pilot data and gather public feedback on the impact of the pilot program. 

The six-month pilot program, launched on August 17th, opened the South Boston Bypass Road to non-commercial traffic at all times in the section from Richards Street to West Service Road, and opened the South Boston Bypass Road in the eastbound direction from I-93 to Richards Street during AM peak hours (6:00 am to 10:00 am).  The pilot also opened the HOV Airport Express Lanes from I-93 Northbound, Kneeland Street and Traveler Street to the Ted Williams Tunnel to all vehicles at all times.  

If you have any questions, please contact Jim Kersten, Legislative Liaison, MassDOT.

The meeting space is accessible to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation (such as American Sign Language Interpreters, assistive listening devices, handouts in alternate formats, etc.) and/or language assistance to fully participate, please contact Jim Kersten at MassDOT at 857-368-9041 or via email before March 29, 2016.  Such accommodations will be provided free of charge.

Related posts

originally posted 3.18.16

South Boston Bypass Road To Close To Non-Commercial Traffic

The South Boston Waterfront Sustainable Transportation Committee, made up of the leadership of MassDOT, the City of Boston, the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, the Massachusetts Port Authority, and A Better City announced today that the South Boston Bypass Road will close to non-commercial traffic on February 19th at 11:59 pm. 

Following the road closure to non-commercial traffic, the Massachusetts State Police will begin a progressive enforcement campaign to remind motorists of the traffic circulation changes. Motorists can expect to begin seeing message boards at the end of this week alerting them to the restrictions, which go into effect on February 20th.

The South Boston Bypass Road had been opened to all vehicles during a six month pilot program. The pilot program will shift to a second phase of gathering public feedback and analyzing the data.

The six-month pilot program was launched on August 17th and opened the South Boston Bypass Road to non-commercial traffic at all times in the section from Richards Street to West Service Road, and opened the South Boston Bypass Road in the eastbound direction from I-93 to Richards Street during AM peak hours (6:00 am to 10:00 am).  The pilot also opened the I-93 Northbound HOV lane from I-93 to the Ted Williams Tunnel to all cars at all times.  The implementation of the six month pilot was one of the cornerstone achievements on the South Boston Waterfront Sustainable Transportation Committee’s list of short-term improvements for the South Boston Waterfront. View the complete South Boston Waterfront Transportation Plan and Progress Report.  

MassDOT worked closely with the Port Area commercial trucking community, which relies on the Bypass Road to sustain their businesses, to monitor the impacts of the trial.  Final approval to open the South Boston Bypass Road was granted by the Massachusetts Environmental Protection Agency (MEPA) in August, with the understanding that this would be a six-month pilot to assess the impact and viability of opening the road to non-commercial traffic.

Next Steps
The South Boston Waterfront Sustainable Transportation Committee has committed to undertaking a public process to review the results of the pilot and determine the next steps for the South Boston Bypass Road.  After a brief transition period, the post-pilot data collection phase will begin and run through March. A public meeting will be held in March to review the results of the pilot and solicit input from the public. The South Boston Waterfront Sustainable Transportation Committee will also continue to work with the maritime stakeholders in the area to understand how the pilot impacted their operations.
A formal report documenting the findings of the pilot, including pre, during, and post-pilot conditions will be finalized in the spring of 2016.      

Initial Pilot Study Results
The initial data from the pilot shows that the changes had no adverse impact on traffic mobility in the South Boston Waterfront.   A notable change of volume was in the eastbound direction of the South Boston Bypass Road between Cypher/ Richards streets and West Service Road where volume increased approximately 21% since the start of the pilot, equating to about 100 more vehicles per hour using the road during the AM peak period. The initial data for I-93 Northbound HOV lane from I-93 to the Ted Williams Tunnel also suggested additional improved usage of the road without significant adverse impacts on travel time for motorists.

South Boston Bypass Rd Pilot Ends February 2016

The South Boston Bypass Road (SBBR) and High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV) Lanes Pilot Program that began in August is scheduled to end February 19, 2016. The pilot program originated from recommendations made during the South Boston Waterfront Sustainable Transportation Plan process.  

The SBBR/HOV Pilot Program consists of:

SBBR between Cypher Street/Richards Street and West Service Road unrestricted access during all time periods in both directions

SBBR between I-93 Frontage Road and  Cypher Street/Richards Street eastbound (inbound) unrestricted access during the morning peak period (6:00 to 10:00 AM)
[Note: westbound (outbound) direction remains restricted during all time periods]

Massachusetts State Police will be strictly enforcing restrictions on the SBBR.
Failure to comply may result in a moving violation and a fine of $50 per infraction.

HOV Ramps open to general traffic during all time periods

I-93 Northbound to I-90 Eastbound
I-93 Northbound to South Station
I-93 Frontage Road to I-90 Eastbound
Kneeland Street/Lincoln Street to I-90 Eastbound
Kneeland Street/Lincoln Street to I-93 Southbound

An analysis will follow after the Pilot Program to determine what, if any, further actions may be taken. Traffic monitoring checkpoints occurred in Sept/Oct and December 2015. The post pilot program evaluation is due March 2016. 

Callahan Tunnel Reopens, South Boston Bypass Haul Road Restrictions Return

The Callahan Tunnel re-opened Monday, March 10, 2014 ahead of schedule. 

Traffic will return to pre-Callahan Tunnel closure conditions: 

• On Wednesday morning (3/12), the Commercial Vehicle Only restrictions and the HOV lane 2+ restrictions will once again take effect on the South Boston Bypass Haul Road and the HOV Express Lanes to the Airport

• A complete closure of I-93 Southbound through Boston overnight Tuesday (3/11) at 11pm into Wednesday (3/12) at 5am will allow for the removal of overhead detour signage

• Police detail posts supporting the detour routes will end by Wednesday (3/12)

• The I-93 Southeast Expressway HOV Zipper Lane’s early 2pm Southbound opening will continue through Friday (3/14), but return to a 3pm opening on Monday (3/17)

• The traffic cameras that helped officials monitor detour route conditions and messages boards will be removed

The rehabilitation project allows for single-lane restrictions and complete overnight closures in the months ahead. The detour during those overnight closures will be posted as needed and direct motorists along surface streets and into the Ted Williams Tunnel.

Complete massDot press release