Detours and dangers

THERE MAY BE sound reasons to close miles of Interstate 93 and other roads during the July 26-29 Democratic National Convention, but they were not made clear by planners yesterday.

From the north, restrictions begin at Interstate 95. Unless the plan is changed, all southbound traffic will be diverted off of I-93 in Medford during late afternoons and evenings. For travelers from the south, restrictions will begin at the Braintree split. Toss in closures of the Tobin Bridge inbound, the Sumner Tunnel, the Leverett Connector, and other key roadways and ramps and Boston starts to resemble a gated community. Massachusetts residents are ready to accommodate reasonable restrictions to assure that secure and free political speech is exercised at the first national party convention since Sept. 11, 2001. But it will take more to convince commuters that long delays make sense when roads are closed miles from the FleetCenter.

Public safety officials must do everything in their power to prevent any terrorist from approaching the FleetCenter via I-93 with a mobile bomb. Months of consultations with traffic engineers have sought to prevent just such an occurrence. Minimizing congestion in the city may support the security effort.

But public safety officials still need to explain why the plan is so restrictive. For example, why is security increased at the Fleet Center by restricting travel on key arteries more than a mile away? In the plans released yesterday, ease of movement for delegates seems to have been elevated above commuters' ability to make a living.

Jane Garvey, a security consultant for the convention's host committee, says the traffic plan is designed to give confused commuters maximum access to familiar state highways. It is also designed to give them maximum ability to reverse direction. The dominant message is to stay out of town.

The extent of these road closures makes clear that the FleetCenter presents security challenges more severe than anyone could have appreciated when Boston was bidding to be the convention host. Even so, a fuller explanation is needed to show that traffic restrictions are dictated by security, not convenience.