Gen. Hooker entrance to Mass. State House closed for 3 weeks

The Gen. Hooker Entrance, one of two public entryways into the State House, will be closed for the next three weeks, and members of the public are being redirected meanwhile to the Ashburton Park Entrance around the corner.

Work was underway Monday outside the State House, in the area of the entry gate between the bronze statue of Gen. Joseph Hooker and Beacon Street. Bricks had been taken up from the sidewalk.

A spokeswoman for the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, which manages the building, did not immediately respond to an inquiry for more information about the project.

A text alert to State House offices on Friday afternoon said the Beacon Street entrance would be closed until April 22, the Monday following public school vacation week. The capitol building usually sees of burst of activity the week after school vacation, when the House normally holds annual budget debate sessions open into the evening hours.

While members of the public will be directed to use the Ashburton Park Entrance off Bowdoin Street for much of April, State House staff members with security passes were still able as of Monday to access the staff doors on the back side of the Hooker Lobby.