North Shore Traffic Nightmare Looms With Summer Sumner Tunnel Shutdown

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — A weekend inconvenience will soon turn into a full-fledged commuter calamity for North Shore drivers who rely on the Sumner Tunnel to get into the city.

The tunnel, which has been closed for renovations most weekends for a year, will close entirely for two months this summer starting on July 5.

Residents who typically take the tunnel are being advised to begin planning now for alternative ways to get to and from Boston during the closure — or arrange to avoid coming into the city altogether, if possible.

The state Department of Transportation is advising those who use Route 1A South to allow for extra travel time, adjust the commuting time, work from home if possible, and consider alternatives, including the Blue Line, Commuter Rail, Silver Line, ferry and bus.

MassDOT has created an MBTA Planner webpage here.

MassDOT is hosting two virtual public information meetings to discuss project goals, construction activities, and travel options for the public during the closure. All residents, abutters, local business owners and interested commuters are invited to attend.

The meetings will be held on May 24 and May 25 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Registration for the May 24 meeting is here and registration for the May 25 meeting is here.

Meeting attendees will be able to ask questions and offer comments with both meetings presenting the same information. Spanish and Arabic interpretation is available for both meetings.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)