Commuting without the Sumner Tunnel

The dreaded weeks-long Sumner Tunnel closure is finally upon us. The nearly 90-year-old connection between East Boston and Downtown closed to traffic on July 5th for $160 million worth of renovations – and it’s scheduled to stay that way until the end of August.

In the meantime, officials expect serious delays for travelers in the area and are urging folks to find other ways to get around.

The MBTA is offering free and reduced fares on several routes to help ease some of the pressure, including the East Boston ferries and the Blue Line train. So, The Common took advantage of the free fare for a trip out to East Boston to see how passengers are holding up.