Full Closure Of Mass Pike Will Be Place For Hours: MassDOT

WORCESTER, MA — MassDOT is shutting down the eastbound lanes of the Mass Pike in the Worcester area for several hours Monday to clean up after multiple crashes.

The full eastbound closure began before 4 p.m., and transportation officials said the closure would last "several hours." The eastbound closure is in effect between I-84 and the I-290/I-395 exit to Worcester.

MassDOT will divert traffic off the highway onto Route 20 at exit 78. I-84 traffic will also be diverted to Route 20.

The crashes, first reported around 3 p.m., initially closed both sides of the highway in the Charlton area. The crashes coincided with heavy rain passing through southern Worcester County.