Four-month shutdown of the Sumner Tunnel this year reduced to two - but similar shutdown now planned for next year

MassDOT announced today that it's replacing its plans to shut the Sumner Tunnel between May and September this year with plans to shut it between July 5 and Aug. 31, as it works to renovate the 88-year-old tunnel.

MassDOT says it hopes the change will "reduce the impact of the full closure on the traveling public."

This period between July 4 and Labor Day historically has the lowest traffic volumes of the year and is outside of the school year making it much more manageable for traffic management.