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

Page 7

We should stop looking for Bulger and instead lock up the crooks that created this mess. I know it's not complete, but it's already outdated so who really cares!!!! Massachusetts lawmakers should be ashamed and they should stop celebrating what they call "significant milestone" achievements.

WH, Hill, Burlington

Took a ride for fun from Weston to a friend in Medford. It took no time at all. What a pleasure.

Peter , Weston, MA

Great Job!, lets just take our existing highway and bury it. That is all the Big Swig has done. There will be no improvements to traffic. It should have been no less than 5 lanes, to allow through traffic easy passage. Our politicians could screw up a free meal.

Marc, Melrose

Money would have been better spent re-training the moron drivers that we have to put up with. Hey ladies, slow down and pay attention to something else besides your cell phone!

Ted, Bridgewater

I thought the tunnel was great and a good use of $$$ despite what some of my the fellow commentators claim....without the Big Dig the city would have choked to death.....and to SM from Wayland: if you don't like the city why don't you and your Range Rover stay in the 'burbs.

Rob, Boston

While it was a quick trip with very light traffic from Logan Airport Sunday around noon, I had to bypass all of Charlestown before I circled back through Sullivan Square to get home near the Bunker Hill Monument. Fortunately, Sullivan Square wasn't very crowded so I got home quickly. The money would have been much better spent on adding inner and outer rings to the "T", thereby improving Boston's virtually useless public transportation system.

Rebecca, Charlestown

My wife and I went through the tunnel/bridge yesterday and thought it was great. I said to her, "I'm sure people will complain about it no matter what". I come to read these messages about the new tunnel and what a surprise, people are complaining and moaning about. People have to always complain about something. Stop complaining and start enjoying what you have!!!

Nick, Stoneham

1. The suggestion that it should have more lanes wouldn't work. 93 north of the city and the SE expressway haven't changed, so having more lanes wouldn't increase capacity - maybe those cars would move quicker in the wide part, but they would be quickly jammed up as the extra lanes dropped off. The new tunnel does include dedicated lanes for the on-ramps and off-ramps, helping to move that traffic off the main line. Main line width is limited by the feeder roads. 2. By eliminating the exits in downtown Boston, the traffic jams have been moved elsewhere! With many exits, traffic did not flow smooothly, but you were able to exit the highway close to your destination. Now, city streets around the new exits will be a nightmare because everyone is forced to use a few exits, which may be far from their destination. 3. Moving exit 20 so far south will make the tunnel look relatively clear - even if the SE Xway is a nightmare. 4. The only traffic improvement from this whole project will be the addition of the new Ted Williams Tunnel - where none existed before. That will help the artery - simply by removing traffic that had been using the artery. Refurbishing an existing highway (the main line artery) is something of a red herring in terms of improving traffic volume.

Dave, Ashland, MA

Take the train, people. We should be investing in mass transit, not more highways. That is the only thing that is gonna help traffic downtown. Improve the T to the point where more people can/will use it.

Mark, Burlington

While I haven't driven it, nor do I see myself on it very soon, or often, I think it is great that the drivers who won't use it to get into the city are paying for it. Those who ride the T and those who take the Pike are footing most of the bill, while those who actually USE IT will pay nothing!! Massachussetts politics as usual!!

A L, Walpole