Fourth of July 2011 MBTA Schedule and Boston, Cambridge Road Closures

Heading into Boston for the Fourth of July fireworks and Pops Concert on Monday? Here's what you need to know:

MBTA

• Ride for free after 10:30 p.m.: Bus, subway, and commuter rail fares will not be collected from 10:30 p.m. to the end of service on Monday, July 4.
• Subway on a Sunday schedule: The Orange, Blue, Green, and Red Lines will operate on a Sunday schedule on July 4, with an enhanced schedule providing extra service for customers heading to and from the Esplanade.
• Commuter rail on a Saturday schedule: The last train to Melrose commuter rail stops—, and —is the Haverhill 1225 train, which departs North Station at 11:45 p.m., approximately 45 minutes after the fireworks end.

Driving

• No 93 bridge construction: The last few weeks, I-93 has been a constant traffic jam on weekends due to the "93Fast14" bridges project, which reduces the highway to two lanes in both directions from Somerville to Stoneham. That construction will be suspended this weekend by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).
• Major road and bridge projects halted: MassDOT also will suspend construction on major state road and bridge projects beginning at noon on Friday, July 1 through the beginning of regular business hours on Tuesday, July 5.  The exception: the Wellesley Cedar Street Bridge over Route 9 "Heavy Lift" project, which will replace the entire bridge during the weekend beginning Friday, July 1 at 10 p.m. to Monday, July 4 at 10 p.m..  Detours will be in place.
• Free coffee: Free coffee will be served at the 18 MassDOT service plazas from 10 p.m. on Monday, July 4, through 5 a.m. Tuesday morning, July 5.  The plazas serving free coffee include 11 service plazas along I-90 plus plazas along Route 3 in Plymouth, Route 128 in Beverly, Route 128/I-95 in Newton and Lexington, Route 6 in Barnstable, and the Route 24 northbound and southbound plazas. 

Boston and Cambridge Road Closures

The following is only a portion of the road closures and restrictions on Sunday, July 3 and Monday, July 4. To see the full list, please check the PDF attached to this article.

Sunday, July 3

• Storrow Drive partially closed at 4 p.m.: Storrow will be closed to westbound traffic from the Lee Pool to Berkeley Street at approximately 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 3. This will include the entrance from Charles Street Circle. Westbound traffic may re-enter Storrow Drive westbound by heading down Charles Street, to Beacon Street, to the westbound entrance at Berkeley Street.
• The exit to Arlington Street from the Storrow Tunnel (East Bound): Closed at 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 3 until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, July 5.
• Mugar Way at Beacon St. closed to pedestrians: Pedestrians will be directed to Berkeley St. for entrance to the Esplanade. 

Monday, July 4

• No parking on Memorial Drive (either side) from Massachusetts Avenue to the Longfellow Bridge. All vehicles remaining after 12:01 a.m. will be removed.
• Beginning at 7:30 a.m., access to Storrow Drive (east and west bound) from Leverett Circle to Kenmore Square will  be closed to traffic. The Storrow Drive Exit Ramp in the Tip O’Neil Tunnel will be closed to all traffic except emergency vehicles. The Leverett Circle entrance to Storrow Drive West will also be closed. Traffic will be allowed to travel on Msgr. O’Brien Highway to Cambridge and Martha’s Road to Boston.
• Closures include the on-ramps to Storrow Drive from: Berkeley Street; Charlesgate Area (heading Eastbound); Bowker Overpass from the Park Drive; Charles Street Circle (heading westbound).
• Pedestrian routes closed beginning at 7:30 a.m.: Pedestrian bridge at Charles Street Circle going to the Esplanade; Pedestrian bridge at Beacon Street going to the Esplanade; Mugar Way at Beacon Street closed to all pedestrian traffic. Pedestrians wishing to enter the Esplanade will be directed down Beacon Street to Berkeley Street for entry.
• Beginning at 4:30 p.m., Cambridge road closures: Memorial Drive in both directions from Mass. Ave. to the Longfellow Bridge closed. Main Street from Third Street to the Longfellow Bridge. Ames Street from Main Street to Memorial Drive. Wadsworth and Amherst Streets. Land Boulevard from Binney Street to Longfellow Bridge closed. Hayward, Carlton, Charlotte’s Way and Dock Streets. Longfellow Bridge closed in both directions.