The new northbound Central Artery tunnel, which opened to traffic on Saturday night, is getting its first big test today as it handles the full onslaught of the weekday morning commute. Tell us about your experience driving through the tunnel. Could you find your way? How was traffic moving? Do you think the new highway will cut down on traffic jams downtown?   Complete Big Dig coverage

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So far I think it is difficult to judge on the first day. The snow on the first day certainly didn't help traffic. Congratulations on making the transfer to the new road so smooth. Let's wait and see how it goes.

Ed, Northborough

What were you people expecting the traffic would be like on a rainy/snowy day? Then add to it a new roadway that thousands of people are driving on for the 1st time. Of course the traffic is going to be terrible! Use your commonsense people! The artery has always been an ugly mess, it shouldn't stay where it is to make the suburbanites commute easier. I agree with Clare from Dorchester, take the T.

mary, boston

Should have spent the money on the Greenbush line so people from the South Shore could come up without driving. Too bad Hingham delayed it years and made the cost baloon out of control. As for the artery tunnel, it was the same as the old elevated roadway -- backed up, rude drivers who won't let you in, and now the radio doens't work. The bridge is beautiful, though.

Jason, Lexington

Come on people. The tunnels' been open less than 24 hours. Obviously people are going to need some time to get accustomed to it. If you took 10,000 people and dropped them on a highway they'd never been on before, OBVIOUSLY there'd be traffic as people try to acclimate. Don't forget to account for the curiousity factor as well. When there's a car accident on the highway, it's well-known that the traffic backup is caused more by onlookers than the actual accident. It never ceases to amaze me how people actively seek out new ways to complain about something as much and as soon as possible.

CL, Cambridge

The new central artery is great. But it has been mentioned that it will be clog-free only until 2010. The next step to relieve the greater-Boston area of gridlock is to start planning a new ring road half way out. This is where Alewife Brook Parkway, route 60, Market St., Morton St. and Gallivan Blvd are located. Many drivers don't need to go thru downtown Boston, but don't want to drive out to I-95. Ironically, had Gov. Sargent built the ring road first, there would have been no Central Artery as community groups protested after they saw how it ravaged the city. This time we should build many more tunnels underneath communities and neighborhoods to create a ringroad, but it has to be done some time after 2010.

Peter, Newton

This project may have been over priced and corrupt in some aspects, but this is a HUGE win for the city of Boston! Traffic will be better than on the old roadway's, and for those day's when it's not, you can blame the Massholes who drive here, not the roadway. Can't wait to walk from south station to the Fleet Center where the old highway is!!

Steve, Brockton

First impressions were not good... I went through around 1:30pm yesterday and traffic was crawling through (probably due to all the curious drivers). However, I was under the impression the tunnel was going to be much larger than it is. It is only 6 lanes because of on/off ramps??. Travel lanes are only 3 or 4 at times. That is no more lanes than we have now. It then opens to 4 lanes on the bridge then back to 3 then back to four. I don't understand that logic (is the construction still underway that will fix this?) I have serious doubts these new tunnels are going to ease the traffic jams. I will say this, visually, it looks great. The gold lights upon entrance are a great idea. I guess only time will tell but, my fear is we just opened up an expensive underground traffic jam. Maybe I should wait a couple weeks and re-evaluate...

Shawn, Quincy

Drove it for the first time Sunday. Traffic was somewhat slow, but I wonder if it was due to unfamiliarity. Once inside, you have two options, either get off at Government Center or take the Fleet Center exist. We knew where we were going, so we had no issues, but I feel bad for anyone who is not familiar. We got off in the North End, tried to pick it up again near New Chardon, and ended up detouring. We went back towards Roxbury, ended up going over the bridge this time, what a terrific feeling. I think once the unfamiliarity wears off , hopefully, things will speed up.

Susan, Boston

I'm very excited for this tunnel, but i would like to know what the City of Boston could have done with 14.4 Billion for the T. That would have improved flow in and out of the city, and reduced pollution as well.

Fred B., Somerville, MA

Well the first of my daily drives on the new I93 went much better than I thought it would. Only problem I can see is at the end of exit 26 to Martha road, it was backed-up about three times tht normal amount. Would be nice if an Officer was placed at the end of the ramp to assist in traffic control.

Allen, Attleboro