Thursday, 4:30 PM
Officials hope to ease congestion with ongoing Big Dig closures
By Mac Daniel, Globe Staff, and Andrew Ryan, Globe Correspondent
Transportation Secretary John Cogliano said today it will take months to get the Interstate 90 connector tunnels open while asking drivers to use public transit or work flexible hours to avoid possible jams as traffic increases after the Labor Day weekend.
"They need to plan ahead and think about their normal driving habits come Tuesday morning, the day after Labor Day," Cogliano said after a meeting of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority board.
Cogliano and Governor Mitt Romney had previously hoped to have portions of the tunnels opened by Labor Day. But with more than 3,000 ceiling brackets needing to be replaced, and redesigns needing federal approval, the process is moving slower than expected.
Officials unveiled a plan today to try to ease that congestion, taking steps that will include more subway and train service and pushing back Storrow Drive lane closures during events at the Hatch Shell on the Charles River. Officials are urging people to alter their plans and take advantage of carpools and augmented public transportation.
The MBTA will increase service on the Orange and Blue subway lines during off-peak hours and add extra trains when the Green and Red lines are too crowded. Additional commuter trains will be added during off-peak hours from the Route 128 Station in Westwood and the Anderson Regional Transportation Center in Woburn. In Quincy, more commuter ferries will be added for commuters during peak hours.
