MEMORANDUM
TO:
FR:
RE:
DA:
Richard A. Davey, Secretary & CEO
Frank DePaola, Highway Division Administrator
Ongoing Work in the MHS Tunnels
June 21, 2013
To follow is a summary of maintenance and construction activities performed last week
in the Metropolitan Highway System tunnels.
Please feel free to contact me if you need additional information.
Future projects:
•
MassDOT announced this week that the Callahan Tunnel will be closed for
approximately 3 months beginning in January of 2014. The closure is part of a
$34.9 million rehabilitation project. The project includes repairs to the tunnel’s
deck, curb line, gutters and wall panels. The wall panels were removed in
December of last year because of corrosion to the panel wall anchor system. A
single wall panel fell to the roadway in December. There were no injuries and
there was no damage to vehicles in that incident. The full closure will reduce the
overall duration of the rehabilitation project, enhance public safety, and allow for
better coordination with other local repair projects.
Overnight work:
•
•
•
•
•
MassDOT closed the Prudential Tunnel in both directions because of an NSTAR
power outage. The power outage knocked out lighting and ventilation in the
Prudential Tunnel, which necessitated the closure for safety purposes.
A contractor milled the roadway in the Southbound CANA Tunnel in preparation
for future paving work.
After a contractor milled and paved the Copley Square Exit (Exit 22) from the
Prudential Tunnel Eastbound, the contractor is now in the process of installing
elastomeric concrete, an elastic grouting product, around the roadway drain inlets.
The contractor is also installing expansion joint material in the area. This work is
nearing completion.
A contractor is also chipping out concrete and preparing to form piers in the
Prudential Tunnel under Huntington Avenue, as part of a project to pour new
concrete in that area. The work required a lane closure in the Prudential Tunnel
Eastbound. The lane closure was extended to allow a contractor to perform a
routine inspection in the area.
Contractors are repairing water infiltration at multiple points within the O’Neill
Tunnel (both directions) and on related ramps. Recent work has concentrated on
the Northbound side of the tunnel.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
A contractor is performing punch list work on the restoration of the proposed
Columbus Center site. That restoration work is nearly complete.
A contractor is performing routine inspections of the I-93 Northbound Tunnel,
Ramps R-T (Essex Street to I-93 Northbound) and A-CN (Atlantic Avenue to I-93
Northbound). Inspectors are also working in the I-90 Connector Tunnel
Eastbound and along Ramps CN-S (Exit 26 at I-93 Northbound), ST-S (Sumner
Tunnel to Storrow Drive), D (Congress Street to I-93), and F-D (Ted Williams
Tunnel Westbound Exit 24 to I-93). There are also routine inspections ongoing in
various parts of the I-93 Southbound Tunnel and the I-90 Connector Tunnel
Eastbound, and related ramps. Contractors also inspect whenever lane closures
for other work allow access for inspectors.
A private contractor, working on behalf of Boston Properties, the owner of the
Prudential Center, is continuing ceiling repairs in the Prudential Tunnel (both
directions).
A contractor is continuing to pull-test the ceiling anchors in the Ted Williams
Tunnel (both directions). The contractor has begun installation of a supplemental
ceiling hanger system. The contractor is also making any necessary adjustments
to the installed supplemental hangers. Recent work was concentrated in the
exhaust plenums.
Recent substructure repair work in the Storrow Tunnel Westbound has been
focused on installation of the new lighting system. The contractor has also been
directed to replace some of the newly installed curbing because of defects. The
replacement work will be done at no cost to MassDOT.
MassDOT workers replaced a failed power supply unit in a Variable Message
Sign Board in the area of Ramp W-SS (I-90 Westbound Connector Tunnel, HOV
Exit Ramp to South Station).
MassDOT workers replaced a hose in a carbon monoxide detector in the I-90
Connector Tunnel Westbound. Because the system has newer, stronger pumps,
which suck in more soot, the hoses are becoming clogged more frequently.
MassDOT workers also replaced a carbon monoxide monitoring hose and
recalibrated another detector in the vicinity of Ramps L (Exit 20 Northbound to I90 Eastbound/Airport and F-L (Northbound Frontage Road to I-90
Eastbound/Airport).
MassDOT workers replaced five cases of bulbs in the exhaust plenum, above the
ceiling, in the vicinity of Ramps C-NS (Exit 26 to I-93 Northbound) and ST-S
(Sumner Tunnel to Storrow Drive).