Thursday, 4:30 PM
Ramp D connecting Pike to I-93 gets final okay to open
By Globe staff
Good news for commuters this Thanksgiving Eve. Governor Mitt Romney announced late this afternoon that the ramp permitting access from the Massachusetts Turnpike westbound onto I-93 north and south has received final approval to open to traffic.
"This newly restored ramp will not only provide a direct connection between two major highways, but it will also eliminate a detour route that congested surface roadways," said Romney. "This is a major milestone in the effort to repair the I-90 Connector system."
The ramp, commonly referred to as "Ramp D," was closed last July following the tragic ceiling panel collapse that killed Milena Del Valle. Prior to that, westbound I-90 traffic coming out of the Ted Williams Tunnel used Ramp D to access I-93 north and south.
The ramp is set to open at 5 p.m today.
"In conjunction with the Federal Highway Administration, we have undertaken a thorough repair and reinforcement process that meets the highest standards," said Transportation Secretary John Cogliano. "Governor Romney was very clear that public safety should be paramount in this effort, and that was the mandate we followed."
Officials said as part of the repair process, over 1,600 support brackets were either replaced or installed in Ramp D. These brackets provide vertical ceiling panel support, as well as lateral reinforcement to the ceiling system in the event of any seismic activity.
Vehicles traveling on I-90 westbound headed for I-93 have employed a detour using Exit 25 and surface roads, such as the South Boston Bypass Road and Congress Street.
