With the 250th anniversary of Massachusetts and the Boston Marathon converging on Patriots' Day weekend, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has issued a travel advisory for those planning to participate in the festivities. Expect increased traffic, detours, and road closures during this celebratory period, urges MassDOT, and it's recommended that travelers utilize public transportation and real-time tools to aid in their planning. As shared by MassDOT, significant travel disruptions are anticipated throughout the weekend, leading up to the Marathon on Monday, April 21.
"Whether you’re experiencing the historic reenactments in Lexington and Concord or cheering on Marathon runners in Boston, MassDOT wishes you a safe and enjoyable Patriots’ Day weekend," said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt, in a statement obtained by Mass.gov. She followed by urging travelers to "plan ahead, be aware of scheduled closures and detours, and expect heavier traffic." The advice came as a caution, as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts offices, including RMV Service Center locations, will be closed for the holiday on Monday, April 21.
For travelers looking to take advantage of the HOV lane on I-93 southbound between Boston and Quincy, MassDOT has arranged for extended afternoon hours tomorrow, from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. However, users of the HOV lane and the swing lane at the Sumner Tunnel should note, according to a Mass.gov report, that these lanes will not be deployed on Monday, April 21, with operations set to resume the following day.
Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver, said in the statement obtained by Mass.gov, "MassDOT advises travelers attending the 250th Anniversary Celebrations, the Boston Marathon, or other weekend activities to plan for extra travel time and check destination websites for specific venue information." Highlighting the importance of such planning, travel disruptions will include road closures and detours across the region tomorrow, and Saturday, as well as on Marathon Monday, impacting routes in Boston, Newton, Wellesley, and Hopkinton.
To assist those affected by office closures, MassDOT reminds that the RMV online portal at Mass.Gov/RMV remains available for various transactions any time of day. Massachusetts AAA members can also take advantage of RMV services during normal business hours at AAA branch office locations across the state.
