Ted Williams Tunnel
| Company type | Vehicular tunnel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | Tunnel for vehicular traffic on Interstate 90 |
The Ted Williams Tunnel is a vehicular tunnel located in Boston, Massachusetts, serving as the concluding portion of Interstate 90 (known as the Massachusetts Turnpike) from South Boston to Route 1A in East Boston, just past Logan International Airport. It represents the third underwater passage beneath Boston Harbor, following the construction of the Sumner Tunnel and the Callahan Tunnel. Bearing the name of Boston Red Sox icon Ted Williams, this tunnel contains North America's deepest submerged stretch, descending 90 feet below the harbor’s surface.
History
As the initial significant element of Boston's Big Dig initiative, the Ted Williams Tunnel (TWT) was constructed using twelve steel sections shaped like "binoculars," which were manufactured in Baltimore. Each segment was coated with concrete to achieve nearly neutral buoyancy. These sections were then floated to Black Falcon Pier, where they were aligned within a dredged trench and connected beneath the water. Once the sealing panels were removed, final construction tasks were completed to finish the tunnel.
The tunnel opened in 1995, initially permitting only authorized commercial vehicles. Subsequently, non-commercial traffic was allowed during weekends and holidays. By 2003, after substantial completion of I-90, the tunnel was made accessible to all vehicles on a full-time basis.
Stretching , with roughly submerged underwater, tolls are collected bidirectionally through the E-ZPass electronic system (previously known as "Fast Lane"). Massachusetts E-ZPass users pay $1.75 per crossing, while out-of-state or non-E-ZPass drivers face higher charges. Residents of East Boston who qualify receive a discounted toll rate of $0.20 in each direction. Commercial trucks are subject to increased tolls calculated according to their axle count.
Big Dig ceiling collapse
On July 10, 2006, four concrete ceiling panels weighing three tons each fell inside the I-90 Fort Point Channel tunnel leading into the Ted Williams Tunnel. One of these falling panels struck a vehicle, resulting in the death of passenger Milena Del Valle and minor injuries to her husband Angel Del Valle. The collapse was attributed to an adhesive failure connecting a steel tieback that supported the concrete ceiling. In response, Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney ordered an immediate shutdown of the eastbound Ted Williams Tunnel on July 20 after detecting instability in two ceiling supports. Governor Romney announced that "pull tests" would be conducted by an independent firm to evaluate the load-bearing capacity of the bolt and epoxy system. The closure was anticipated to last only "hours, not days." The following day, eastbound lanes reopened exclusively for MBTA Silver Line and commercial buses servicing Logan Airport.
By August 8, I-90 connector ramp A leading to the Ted Williams Tunnel resumed operations for general traffic, improving access to Logan Airport from southern routes. Vehicles traveling northbound on I-93 could use exit 15B (formerly exit 18) combined with the South Boston Access Road to reach Ramp A, bypassing downtown Boston and avoiding a U-turn at Storrow Drive required for entry into the Callahan Tunnel. On September 1, one eastbound lane of the damaged connector tunnel reopened for use.
See also
- Callahan Tunnel
- Massachusetts Turnpike
- Sumner Tunnel
- Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. Tunnel
- Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge