The Massachusetts Motor Transportation Administration (MMTA) has announced a hazardous materials cargo ban on a number of tunnels.

New tunnels affected by the cargo ban include:
-- The MassPike opened a new tunnel connector on Jan. 19 that links Route 90 East and West to the Ted Williams Tunnel and the South Boston Interchange near the Convention Center.
-- On Jan. 26 (approximately), the MassPike will open another tunnel connector ramp from Route 93 North in the vicinity of South Bay (Route 93 N Exit 20) to Route 90 East which will lead to South Boston interchange near the Convention Center and the Ted Williams Tunnel.
-- On Feb. 16 (approximately), the state will open Route 93 North (an underground highway system) through the city of Boston (formerly known as the Central Artery North).
There will be a hazardous cargo ban on all tunnels in this underground roadway system. No hazardous cargo is allowed in these tunnels.
After Route 93 is open, trucks with hazardous materials will have to take an alternate route.
MMTA says that if hazmat carriers do go through, they will be forced to back out of the tunnel (about two miles). The alternate route will be to go straight on Atlantic Avenue, north of Washington Street and to reconnect with 93N at Rutherford Avenue. MMTA says it is imperative that drivers take note of this because the Massachusetts State Police have been directed to institute the highest level of enforcement within the tunnel. Cruisers will be situated at various points throughout the tunnel to carry out this directive.
For more information on this issue, contact Anne Lynch at the MMTA at (617) 695-3512.