CENTRAL ARTERY PROJECT HITS MILESTONE WITH I-93 OPENING

The critical I-93 segment of Boston's Central Artery/Tunnel project opened in a March 27 ceremony as part of a phased opening of the $4 billion I-93 northbound segment. It runs through the center of downtown Boston. It follows the opening of the $6.5 billion I-90 section in late January. The new section runs for 3.5 miles from south of the city across the Charles River to connect with Tobin Bridge to process north. It has 1.5 miles of tunnel and a cable-stayed bridge that is about one-third of a mile long. The entire project has used almost five miles of slurry walls, making it one of the largest users of that technique in one location, which allowed the old routes to remain open to traffic while tunnels were being constructed. The new segment also contains the site of the deepest hole in the project, the area containing a four-story underground building, Vent building #4. The new configurations will require extensive driver education as routes are adjusted to make way for remaining construction as well.