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Callahan Tunnel

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Coordinates: 42°22′04″N 71°2′46″W / 42.36778°N 71.04611°W / 42.36778; -71.04611
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Callahan Tunnel
The downtown Boston entrance to the tunnel
Overview
LocationBoston, Massachusetts
Coordinates42°22′04″N 71°2′46″W / 42.36778°N 71.04611°W / 42.36778; -71.04611
StatusOpen
Route
 Route 1A north
StartDowntown Boston
EndEast Boston
Operation
Constructedhigh-strength steel and concrete infill
OpenedNovember 11, 1961 (1961-11-11)
OwnerCommonwealth of Massachusetts
OperatorMassachusetts Department of Transportation
TollBetween $0.20 and $2.05
Technical
Length0.96 mi (1.54 km)
No. of lanes2
Operating speed40 mph (64 km/h)
Tunnel clearance13.4 ft (4.1 m)[1]
Width24.2 ft (7.4 m)[1]

The Lieutenant William F. Callahan Jr. Tunnel (colloquially Callahan Tunnel) is a road tunnel under Boston Harbor between the North End and East Boston. It carries northbound Massachusetts Route 1A, forming a one-way pair with the Sumner Tunnel. Opened in 1961 to complement the Sumner Tunnel, it carried all northbound traffic under the harbor until the Ted Williams Tunnel opened in the 1990s as part of the Big Dig.

History

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Map showing the Callahan Tunnel (in red)

The tunnel was opened in 1961 to complement the Sumner Tunnel. The under-construction tunnel had been named in February 1960 after William F. Callahan Jr. – the son of Turnpike chairman William F. Callahan – who was killed in Italy during World War II.[2][3] A toll plaza was located at the East Boston end of the tunnel. On May 2, 1983, one-way tolling was implemented in the Sumner and Callahan tunnels and on the Tobin Bridge. The Callahan Tunnel toll plaza was removed, while tolls on the Sumner Tunnel doubled to 60 cents.[4][5]

Repairs to the tunnel were made in the early 1990s.[6] The Big Dig project, which replaced the elevated Central Artery with a tunnel, modified the western approaches to the tunnel. Access from northbound I-93 was closed in January 2003 after a ramp from I-93 to the Ted Williams Tunnel opened.[7] A new ramp from New Chardon Street opened in March 2003.[8][9] When the northbound lanes of the Central Artery tunnel opened later that month, they did not include a ramp to the Callahan Tunnel.[10][11] The original ramp from North Street closed in November 2003, leaving access to the Callahan Tunnel only from New Chardon Street and southbound I-93.[12]

A major overhaul began in December 2013, which completely replaced the deck, curbs, and wall panels; and cleaned and repaired its ceiling and vent systems (above the ceiling and below the deck). It was planned for three phases: complete closure from December 27, 2013 to March 12, 2014 during deck and curb replacement; closures 11pm-5am from March 13, 2014 to late August 2014 for wall panel replacement; and final work until November 2014. McCourt Construction of South Boston was awarded the $19.3 million contract in August.[13] During closures, Logan-bound traffic was diverted into the Ted Williams Tunnel, Tobin Bridge, and Massachusetts Route 1A South via Revere or East Boston.[14]

In 2016, cashless tolling systems were installed in both directions – entering the Sumner Tunnel and exiting the Callahan Tunnel – as part of a plan to modernize toll collection the Boston area.[15] As of 2016, a toll of $1.50 is charged for non-commercial two-axle vehicles with a Massachusetts E-ZPass, while non-Massachusetts E-ZPass holders are charged $1.75. Vehicles without E-ZPass are charged $2.05 through MassDOT's Pay By Plate MA program. For residents of certain Boston ZIP codes, a discount is in effect using an E-ZPass transponder, costing $0.20.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Rehabilitation of the Sumner/Callahan Tunnels" (PDF). Concrete Repair Bulletin. International Concrete Repair Institute, Inc. May–June 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 30, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  2. ^ "Second Harbor Tunnel". The Boston Globe. February 5, 1960. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "New tunnel in Boston named for Callahan, Jr". The Morning Union. February 5, 1960. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Pillsbury, Fred (May 1, 1983). "One-way toll experiment starts in Hub tomorrow". The Boston Globe. pp. 1, 21 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Massachusetts Port Authority (April 28, 1983). "One-way Tolls. [advertisement]". The Daily Item. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Hanson, Melissa (December 27, 2013). "Callahan Tunnel closure begins at 11 p.m." Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 30, 2014.
  7. ^ Daniel, Mac (January 24, 2003). "New I-93 exit set to open". The Boston Globe. p. B3 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Daniel, Mac (March 7, 2003). "I-93 ramp to Callahan Tunnel set to open". The Boston Globe. p. B8 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Daniel, Mac (March 16, 2003). "T fares cheap by comparison? No way, riders say". The Boston Globe. p. B2 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Another piece of the puzzle". The Boston Globe. March 27, 2003. p. B4 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Daniel, Mac (March 27, 2003). "Motorists urged to steer clear of Central Artery". The Boston Globe. p. A1, B5 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Daniel, Mac (November 16, 2003). "Commute offers sights and smells of autumn". The Boston Globe. p. B2 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Chesto, Jon (November 17, 2013). "Here's what you need to know about the Callahan Tunnel's three-month closure". Boston Business Journal. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  14. ^ "Callahan Tunnel Rehabilitation Project". Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on December 30, 2013. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
  15. ^ "Toll Rates". EZDRIVEMA. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
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Media related to Callahan Tunnel at Wikimedia Commons

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