Back Bay Power Outage Causes MassPike Closure
State Police are in the process of closing the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) at the Prudential Tunnel due to a large scale overnight power outage in the area.
Eastbound traffic will be detoured to Storrow Drive at Exit 18, and westbound traffic will be detoured to I-93 via the Ted Williams Tunnel, according to a state police alert Sunday morning.
Travelers are advised to avoid the area completely, as delays are anticipated at the detour locations. Motorists are encouraged to Rt.2, Rt.9, Storrow Drive, Soldier’s Field Road and Rt.128 to I-93, accessing them as far from the detour points as possible to help minimize traffic delays in those areas, the alert said.
The power outage caused a lightning and ventilation issue in the tunnel, according to an alert. Charlesgate East and West and the Bowker overpass at Boylston Street are also impacted.
There are 2,717 NStar customers currently without power, according to an outage map.