joanne2603

Im arriving in Logon Boston in a few weeks time, I have been there many times but normally drive to maine so no need to drive through a tunnel. This time though we are staying in Boston City for one night and i really can not drive through the long tunnels, a few seconds i caan cope with but any longer and i become a nightmare for my husband !! Can anyone help plan a route with my GPS. Avoiding Williams , Sumner and Callahan Tunnels. Helpless In Ireland

gail

There is really no practical way to get from Logan to downtown without going thru Sumner/Callahan Tunnel (one name per direction - I always forget which is inbound and which is out). Alternate routes are not going to be better - to head south, thru Ted Williams Tunnel and then north on Rte 93 - but you are only substituting one tunnel for another.

In past there was a rather complicated route involving city streets thru east Boston, over the "Chelsea St Bridge", then thru city streets in Chelsea, over the Tobin Bridge and into Boston. However, this bridge is currently closed for extensive repairs - and part of Big Dig would now require a series of short tunnels after going over the Tobin Bridge.

What about transportation options other than driving into Boston - would you feel OK about subway tunnels? You could take shuttle bus to MBTA Blue Line, take that into Boston, switching to whatever other line was appropriate for your hotel. Then pick up car at in-town location - would work depending on where you are driving after downtown to avoid tunnels.

cw

Do you have to rent a car at the airport? If not, you could take the water shuttle from Logan to Boston, then go on to your hotel and then rent a car in town.

Otherwise, you can map out a route from the airport similar to the one you used going North, but instead of going North, take route 1 South over the Tobin Bridge. There will be a very short tunnel after the bridge, and, if you take Storrow Dr., you'll have some small tunnels, but they are not the endless sort of tunnel where you can't see any end.

I'm thinking that from the airport you can take Rt. 1A to Rt. 16 to Rt. 1 South. If you can't bear the bridge and short tunnels, you can stay on 16 which circles to the North of Boston, and just head South in Medford to Cambridge to Boston.

I don't know if you've ever been through the Williams Tunnel--but it is very wide and high and not claustrophobic like the Callahan Tunnel.

Good luck.

joanne2603

Thanks for your suggestions Gail !! @ CW The Storrrow route is one that i'v seen on the map and seems like an ok option. The short tunnels are ok if i can see an end to it. I have been through ted williams, my husband went into it by mistake and i think he thought i was going to kill him before we got to the end of it. Jeez if the ted williams is not so claustrophobic what must the callahan tunnel be like ?? I dread to think. The water shuttle is a good idea too though i could just catch that and meet everyone at the other side.. What a disaster , its always the same panic when i go to america every year. Sub way and trains are a no go area too. Off to a hipnotist for 2012 i think for me !!!

cw

joanne, I was thinking about this a bit more. If you did drive North to go South, you could stay on Rt. 16 to Rt. 99 South. That would bring you to Charlestown and you could go over the Gilmore Bridge to Rt. 28 into Boston. You'd avoid the bridge and Storrow Dr. tunnels but you may have a short underpass in Charlestown--but you could go around it. You can look at this on a map.

And here's the link to the water shuttles: http://www.massport.com/logan-airpor...Transport.aspx

There is a free bus that brings you from the terminal to the Logan dock and the ride across is short. This may be less complicated for you.

gail

If you had that reaction to Ted Williams Tunnel do not even consider Sumner/Callahan. You can not see the end, it is poorly lit, and the ceiling and walls are much closer to car than in Ted Williams.

I think water shuttle is your best idea. The other routes - Tobin Bridge, Gilmore Bridge, etc are so complicated and have such traffic at all times - if you miss a turn you are in trouble and they are not well marked.

joanne2603

Thanks guys for the replies !!! I may just have to bite the bullet and go do the tunnell !!Close my eyes and hope for the best ! Im sure it will be worth it once im out the other side lol

SandyBrit

joanne2603:

"We are staying in Boston city for one night" Why not stay close to the airport for your one night? Where are you carrying on to?

We have stayed at the Embassy Suites close to the airport. Hotel picks you up, breakfast included and then picked a hire car up next morning. Hotel shuttle will drop you off.

Sandy

JBX

joanne2603 --
I'd also suggest you stay your 1 night @ Embassy Suites-Logan (especially if you'll be flying out next day and want easy proximity). I stayed there in February (1 night) before continuing on up to NH the next morning. As previous poster advised, the hotel will pick you up from Logan terminal, and in a.m. provide a nice breakfast ...... several buffet items (cereal, fruit, muffins) as well as made-to-order omelettes.
Altho close to Logan, it was surprisingly quiet. Due to layout of airport/runways, I think most planes come in/take off from other side (over ocean).

Alternatively, if your plans to continue onward involve a rental car, then opt for taking the shuttle bus (bus #66) to the dock ..... the bus circulates outside all terminals picking up/dropping off passenger. Then from dock you can take boat across harbor --- http://www.massport.com/logan-airpor...Transport.aspx --- note, there are both water shuttles and water taxis. Since there are several hotels right along Long Wharf, you may want to stay in that immediate area for convenience.

Austin

I have a fear of heights. Ini Telluride, I had a glass of wine and was able to get on the chair lift. Just a thought.