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The Lieutenant William F. Callahan Jr. Tunnel (colloquially Callahan Tunnel) is a road tunnel under Boston Harbor between the North End and East Boston. It carries northbound Massachusetts Route 1A, forming a one-way pair with the Sumner Tunnel. Opened in 1961 to complement the Sumner Tunnel, it carried all northbound traffic under the harbor until the Ted Williams Tunnel opened in the 1990s as part of the Big Dig.
HistoryEdit
The tunnel was opened in 1961 to complement the Sumner Tunnel. The under-construction tunnel had been named in February 1960 after William F. Callahan Jr. – the son of Turnpike chairman William F. Callahan – who was killed in Italy during World War II.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A toll plaza was located at the East Boston end of the tunnel. On May 2, 1983, one-way tolling was implemented in the Sumner and Callahan tunnels and on the Tobin Bridge. The Callahan Tunnel toll plaza was removed, while tolls on the Sumner Tunnel doubled to 60 cents.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Repairs to the tunnel were made in the early 1990s.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Big Dig project, which replaced the elevated Central Artery with a tunnel, modified the western approaches to the tunnel. Access from northbound I-93 was closed in January 2003 after a ramp from I-93 to the Ted Williams Tunnel opened.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A new ramp from New Chardon Street opened in March 2003.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> When the northbound lanes of the Central Artery tunnel opened later that month, they did not include a ramp to the Callahan Tunnel.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The original ramp from North Street closed in November 2003, leaving access to the Callahan Tunnel only from New Chardon Street and southbound I-93.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
A major overhaul began in December 2013, which completely replaced the deck, curbs, and wall panels; and cleaned and repaired its ceiling and vent systems (above the ceiling and below the deck). It was planned for three phases: complete closure from December 27, 2013 to March 12, 2014 during deck and curb replacement; closures 11pm-5am from March 13, 2014 to late August 2014 for wall panel replacement; and final work until November 2014. McCourt Construction of South Boston was awarded the $19.3 million contract in August.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> During closures, Logan-bound traffic was diverted into the Ted Williams Tunnel, Tobin Bridge, and Massachusetts Route 1A South via Revere or East Boston.<ref name="massdot">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2016, cashless tolling systems were installed in both directions – entering the Sumner Tunnel and exiting the Callahan Tunnel – as part of a plan to modernize toll collection the Boston area.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As of 2016, a toll of $1.50 is charged for non-commercial two-axle vehicles with a Massachusetts E-ZPass, while non-Massachusetts E-ZPass holders are charged $1.75. Vehicles without E-ZPass are charged $2.05 through MassDOT's Pay By Plate MA program. For residents of certain Boston ZIP codes, a discount is in effect using an E-ZPass transponder, costing $0.20. Template:Clear left