MEMORANDUM
TO:
FR:
RE:
DA:
Richard A. Davey, Secretary & CEO
Frank DePaola, Highway Division Administrator
Ongoing Work in the MHS Tunnels
June 27, 2014
To follow is a summary of maintenance and construction activities performed last week
in the Metropolitan Highway System Tunnels.
Overnight work:
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MassDOT closed the I-90 Connector Tunnel Eastbound overnight to perform
maintenance, repair and cleaning work in areas of the tunnel not normally accessible
when vehicles are on the roadway. The tunnel closure also included lane closures in
the Prudential Tunnel Eastbound in support of the full Connector Tunnel closure.
MassDOT closed the Callahan Tunnel overnight to for repairs and preliminary work
on a redesign of the trench drains recently installed at the entrance portal. The drain
had been replaced during the recent closure, but was placed at an incorrect angle.
This caused banging noises when vehicles drove over it, and will accelerate wear and
tear on the drain. MassDOT is looking into the causes of the installation at the
incorrect angle, and evaluating whether to charge the contractor for this issue.
Contractors are repairing water infiltration at multiple points within the O’Neill
Tunnel (both directions) and on related ramps.
Water infiltration repair work is also underway in the I-90 Connector Tunnel (both
directions) and the Ted Williams Tunnel Eastbound.
A contractor working on behalf of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority is
performing ongoing ceiling-related construction in the Prudential Tunnel. The
contractor is also installing new fireproofing materials. The contractor continues to
repair the walls and remove supplemental steel and concrete, which requires periodic
lane closures.
A contractor working on behalf of the owner of the Prudential Center continued work
on the ceiling of the Prudential Tunnel Westbound. This is a different section of the
ceiling than what has been noted above.
MassDOT continued the Callahan Tunnel rehabilitation with repairs to the tunnel
wall and installation of the wall panel support system. The tunnel re-opened in
March; rehabilitation work continues with periodic lane closures as needed.
A contractor performed a routine inspection of portions of the I-93 Southbound
Tunnel and related ramps. A contractor also performed a similar inspection on the
Northbound side. A contractor is also inspecting the I-90 Connector Tunnel (both
directions) the HOV Tunnel, and the Eastbound tunnel set.
A contractor continued repairs to the roadway wearing surface near the entry portal of
the Ted Williams Tunnel Westbound.
MassDOT workers charged the standpipes in the I-93 Northbound Tunnel. This
weather-dependent activity allows for faster responses in the event of a tunnel fire.
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MassDOT workers performed cleaning and routine maintenance work on drainage
structures near the Sumner Tunnel. The work required a lane closure in the Sumner
and closure of ST-SA (Sumner Tunnel to Surface Artery) and ST-CN (Sumner
Tunnel to I-93 Northbound).
MassDOT workers replaced the motor on a ventilation fan in the Prudential Tunnel
Westbound.
A contractor repaired a crash attenuator that had suffered (minimal) damage after
being struck by a vehicle in the Ted Williams Tunnel Eastbound.
MassDOT workers closed the I-93 Southbound Tunnel between Ramps CS-P (Exit
23, I-93 Southbound to Purchase Street) and Ramp R-S (Purchase/Congress Street to
I-93 Southbound/I-90 Westbound). The closure allowed MassDOT to move water
out of the supply plenums in that area, across the roadway into drainage structures.
The water resulted from water infiltration, cleaning and maintenance efforts, and was
placed in the plenums deliberately in an attempt to move the water from one area of
the tunnel to another.
MassDOT workers performed cleanup and landscaping work on the right wall exiting
the Sumner Tunnel.
MassDOT workers replaced three cases of bulbs and 3 ballasts in the S-N Tunnel
(Storrow Eastbound Tunnel to Northbound Leverett Ramp).