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 9

Who is going to clean the tiles?

Mark, Winchester

Still has the 3 lanes and all the winding turns. I don't see any difference from the old except less potholes and you can't see the traffic. Should keep the surface artery for local traffic and the tunnel for direct route through Boston and avoid the exits all together. But what do I know, I'm not a high paid engineer. Should have asked the people who drive it.

tom, quincy

it's nice but traffic was slow yesterday. I missed exit 20 and ended up going through it by accident. I'm just wondering what it will be like jammed on a hot summer day.

kate, cambridge

The picture of the tunnel shows only three lanes. Please tell me that there are going to be more than three lanes moving in each direction. Please.

Bob Jumper, Winchester

I am shocked at the number of negative responses on this board. I am especially shocked at the number of people who claim the project is "outdated". I am serious in asking this question. Who decides what is outdated? Do any of you have engineering statistics to back it up or are you all just repeating a slogan you heard? Also, any folks on the South Shore; hold your complaints. When you have to pay tolls to get anywhere then you have the right to criticize.

JPeterman, Winthrop

All you whiners stop complaining, OBVIOUSLY there is going to be traffic the first couple of days, as people are confused. It makes life so much simplier, and efficient to get through or into Boston. If you don't like it, move to Iraq.

Jeff, Sudbury

What a waste of $$- I could see if it was 6 or 7 lanes!!

cilla, South Boston

OK so lets review.... old way: (before big dig) sit in traffic on expressway for hour, go through SS tunnel, take 10-20 minutes to get through town to somerville while enjoying nice view, breeze, and tunes. New way: sit in traffic on expressway for hour-and-a-half, enter tunnel sit in claustrophbic, exhaust fume filled tunnel for no less time than before? Yeah, good job.

Dan, Quincy

Awesome! My only complaint is that the tunnel doesn't end with a dropoff into Boston Harbor so all those Boston liberals can do a Teddy Kennedy.

Jeff P., Quincy

The new tunnel seemed to work ok... however, it's everything before the tunnel that's still a real headache. Traffic from the beginning of 93 in Braintree all the way up to Boston is a nightmare. What i see is that everyone and their mother's uncle is getting off at the new exit 20. Once you get past that point, you can fly thru. Even a few weeks ago, before the northbound tunnel opened... didn't everyone notice that after you passed exit 20, traffic really really picked up... all the way thru south station, past causway etc. Now that they have 1 exit (#20) providing what used to be 3 different exits, it almost makes the northbound tunnel seem obsolete because a big majority are getting off the highway before even entering the tunnel. IMO, the norhtbound tunnel eases congestion in the immediate downtown area only... in essense, it helps only those people who and drive in the downtown area. It does absolutely nothing for the people commuting from the south. Even if it is... it doesn't seem so because exit 20 is the cause of major highway backup. Just my 2cents.

Dave, Providence