MEMORANDUM
TO:
FR:
RE:
DA:
Richard A. Davey, Secretary & CEO
Frank DePaola, Highway Division Administrator
Ongoing Work in the MHS Tunnels
April 13, 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:
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MassDOT implemented a full closure of the I-93 Southbound Tunnel to facilitate
maintenance. These closures will continue, overnight, on the first Tuesday of
each month. The Northbound side of the tunnel will also be closed, overnight, on
the third Tuesday of each month. More than 100 MassDOT workers performed
maintenance and repairs, and also cleaned multiple parts of the tunnel system.
Maintenance and repairs were concentrated on areas over center lanes of the
roadway, because these areas are more difficult to reach during standard laneclosures.
Contractors continue to make repairs to tunnel joints in the area of Ramp R-T,
linking Essex Street to I-93 Northbound. The work is part of MassDOT’s
ongoing efforts to repair water infiltration. Water infiltration repairs to nearby
Ramp A-CN are ongoing. Work is also occurring in the Northbound side of the
O’Neill Tunnel itself.
Additional water infiltration repair work is occurring at Ramp CN-SA, near Exit
26 from I-93 Northbound, Ramp SA-CS (Surface Artery Southbound to I-93
Southbound), Ramp CS-P (I-93 Southbound to Purchase Street) in the area of Exit
23, Ramp S-N (Leverett Circle to I-93 Northbound), Ramp L-CS (Leverett Circle
to I-93 Southbound) and Ramp SA-CT (Surface Artery Southbound to Callahan
Tunnel).
MassDOT replaced 2 cases of lamps in the Prudential Tunnel Westbound and the
adjacent ramp from Clarendon Street.
MassDOT inspected the fire extinguishers in the Prudential Tunnel Westbound.
All were charged. No replacements were necessary.
MassDOT performed additional repairs and maintenance on cross-passage doors
in the Prudential Tunnel Eastbound.
A contractor is continuing substructure repairs in the Storrow Tunnel Westbound
under Leverett Circle. This work is scheduled to last through the end of the
summer.
MassDOT has an ongoing routine inspection underway throughout the tunnel
system. That ongoing inspection will require periodic closures of various parts of
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the system to allow for better access by inspectors. Last week’s inspection work
included inspections of the HOV Tunnel.
A contractor is also performing a routine ceiling inspection in the I-90 Connector
Tunnel Eastbound and in the Prudential Tunnel Eastbound.
A contractor installed conduit on the South wall of the Prudential Tunnel
Eastbound.
A contractor continued milling pavement in the Prudential Tunnel Westbound.
Milling is grinding and removing pavement from the roadway so that repairs can
be made below the wearing (driving) surface of the roadway. Repairs to the
concrete slab have also begun.
MassDOT replaced catch basin grates in the I-93 Southbound Tunnel.
A contractor cleaned trench drains in the area of Tunnel S-N (Storrow Eastbound
Tunnel to Northbound Leverett Ramp), at the I-93 Southbound Tunnel exit portal,
at Ramp SA-CN (Cross Street to I-93 Northbound) and at Ramp ST-CN (Sumner
Tunnel to I-93 Northbound).
A contractor made emergency repairs to a grate covering a trench drain in the
Dewey Square Tunnel (I-93 Southbound). The grate was repaired because of a
bolt failure during trench drain cleaning. The contractor then inspected the drain
grates throughout the I-93 Tunnels (both directions). The contractor is in the
process of replacing these grates. No additional issues were found with the
grates.
MassDOT cleaned cameras in the CANA (City Square) Tunnel, Northbound and
Southbound.
MassDOT cleaned and swept Ramp L-CS (Leverett Circle to I-93 Southbound) in
preparation for paving work.