BOSTON, Mass. – Work continues on the restoration of Boston’s Sumner Tunnel, which carries traffic under the Boston Harbor from Logan International Airport and Route 1A in East Boston.

J.F. White Contracting Co. is leading the $156 million effort that began in February 2022 to rehabilitate the nearly 100-year-old tunnel that was the first traffic tunnel in Massachusetts and one of the oldest in the nation. State and federal transportation dollars are funding the work.

Corrosion and wear and tear have deeply impacted wall panels and gutters, according to the Massachusetts Dept. of Transportation. Exposed rebar on the tunnel ceiling and rough pavement conditions made the big project a safety priority.

Concrete wall repairs have been a major facet of the project scope, according to J.F. White. Removal of existing wall panels, installation of temporary lighting, access openings and formwork for pending concrete flow materials at existing ducts under box sections has also been done. Repairing chipped and crumbling concrete, replacing rusting reinforcements, broken light fixtures and deteriorating roadway surfaces is also being done.

Thanks to accelerated techniques including prefabrication, the project schedule has been accelerated, enabling crews to close the tunnel for only four months rather than the initially projected time period of seven months, and to shorten the overall project delivery schedule by 10 months.

Project partners are aiming for completion by January.