MEMORANDUM
TO:
FR:
RE:
DA:
Richard A. Davey, Secretary & CEO
Frank DePaola, Highway Division Administrator
Ongoing Work in the MHS Tunnels
September 7, 2012
To follow is a summary of maintenance and construction activities performed over the
last week in the Metropolitan Highway System tunnels.
Please feel free to contact me if you need additional information.
Overnight work:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
MassDOT closed the I-90 Connector Tunnel Westbound and Ted Williams
Tunnel Westbound overnight as part of its regular overnight work, allowing staff
to make repairs and perform maintenance. This is similar to other regular
closures in the I-93 tunnel system that allows for similar work to be performed.
A contractor continues to work on demolishing the median island between the
Eastbound and Westbound sides of I-90, East of the Prudential Tunnel. The
contractor is also repairing the boat slab nearby and preparing for demolition
work from the other direction. This involves both day and night work.
A contractor is repairing slurry walls at various points between the portals in the
I-93 Tunnel (both directions).
MassDOT closed lanes in the CANA Tunnels (extending to the old toll plaza on
the Tobin Bridge) to perform standpipe testing for the Boston Fire Department.
The Tobin standpipe testing has been successfully completed.
A contractor is finishing work in a portion of the Prudential Tunnel. In addition
to ongoing pavement repairs, concrete repairs, boat slab repairs and work on the
base slab and joints, the contractor is restoring and repairing concrete walls in the
area of the parcel formerly designated for the Columbus Center project. The
contractor also striped a recently repaired section of the roadway.
A contractor is sealing the roadway surface as part of ongoing concrete repairs in
the I-93 Northbound Tunnel. Last week’s work was in the area of Ramp R-T
(Essex Street to I-93 Northbound).
Water infiltration repair work is ongoing at Ramp CN-SA, near Exit 26 from I-93
Northbound, Ramp SA-CS (Surface Artery Southbound to I-93 Southbound),
Ramp SA-CT (Surface Artery Southbound to Callahan Tunnel) and ST-S
(Sumner Tunnel to Storrow Drive). Work is also occurring in the I-93
Northbound Tunnel near the exit portal and at various other locations, including
the I-93 Southbound Tunnel and the S-N Tunnel (Storrow Eastbound Tunnel to
Northbound Leverett Ramp).
A contractor is continuing substructure repairs in the Storrow Tunnel Westbound
under Leverett Circle. Recent work includes wall panel repairs and lighting
upgrades. Repairs are expected to be complete by the fall.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
MassDOT has an ongoing routine inspection underway throughout the tunnel
system. That ongoing inspection will require periodic closures of various parts of
the system to allow for better access by inspectors. The contractor is
concentrating on the Westbound side of the tunnels, including related ramps, and
another contractor is performing a routine inspection of the Sumner Tunnel and
the Callahan Tunnel. The contractor is also inspecting the Ramp L (Exit 20
Northbound to I-90 Eastbound and from Northbound Frontage Road to I-90
Eastbound) tunnel.
A contractor continues to perform survey work in the CANA Tunnel Northbound
to facilitate placement of markers in that tunnel as location aids in future
inspections, repairs or construction.
MassDOT replaced a clogged hose on a carbon monoxide monitor on Ramp CS-P
(I-93 Southbound to Purchase Street, at Exit 23).
MassDOT replaced six cases of bulbs and three ballasts in the Callahan Tunnel.
MassDOT refreshed all line striping in the HOV Tunnel.
A contractor is repairing the plenum wall in the area of Ramps D (Congress Street
to I-93) and F-D (Ted Williams Tunnel Westbound to I-93, at Exit 24). The
repairs are necessary as the result of a vehicle strike.
A contractor is in the process of installing a new design that replaces the trench
drain grate covers throughout the tunnel system. The previous covers were prone
to loosening or breaking, and could create hazards by falling into the trench box.
MassDOT has nearly finished installation of the new drains on the Southbound
side. The contractor is now working in the Eastbound and Westbound Tunnels
and associated ramps over the next several weeks. The contractor also tightened
bolts securing the old trench drain covers that have yet to be replaced.
MassDOT closed two lanes in the I-93 Northbound Tunnel to facilitate testing of
a new LED lighting system on the Zakim Bridge. The system being tested would
replace the traditional bulb system that currently illuminates the bridge. The
product is an LED architectural lighting system, which would allow the lighting
colors to be changed remotely. The current requires a change of each lens in
order to change lighting colors. Illumination from one of the new lights is in the
photo below. This is one fixture. There will be four fixtures on each leg.