Traffic & Transit
Sumner Tunnel To Reopen Monday, Commuter Rail Discount Ends
With the reopening of the Sumner Tunnel after a monthlong closure, the Rockport/Newburyport line will go back to full price.
BOSTON — The reopening of the Sumner Tunnel from a monthlong closure on Monday is good news for those who use the tunnel to get to Boston and access Logan Airport from the North Shore but not so great for those who have been enjoying discounted Commuter Rail service for the past four weeks.
The final, extended full closure set for the tunnel as part of a $160 million renovation will expire Monday morning. This year's work window was shortened from two months to one month because of extra work that was done last summer.
This year's work included repairing the roadway, walls, and drainage and to improve safety and climate resiliency.
Find out what's happening in Swampscottfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A new ceiling was put in the tunnel last summer.
The closures are not completely done, however, with weekend shutdowns planned through August and the fall to finish the renovations that are intended to extend the tunnel's useful lifespan another 75 years.
Find out what's happening in Swampscottfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The tunnel will be closed the weekends of Aug. 9, Aug. 16 and Aug. 23 starting at 11 p.m. on Fridays and reopening at 5 a.m. the following Monday.
It will be open for Labor Day weekend, which is Aug. 30 to Sept. 2.
MassDOT said the contractor will determine in August the number of weekend closures that will be scheduled through October.
Starting Tuesday, the MBTA said that Newburyport/Rockport line passengers will have to pay regular fares after Zone 1A fares ($2.40 one way) were accepted between Riverworks and Newburyport/Rockport since July 5.
There is also a new train schedule for the Rockport/Newburyport line that includes some minor adjustments designed to improve on-time performance.
Among the changes are that Train 146 will depart Newburyport five minutes earlier and Train 143 will depart North Station seven minutes later than its original time.
The full schedule that begins Monday can be found here.
(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)
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