State Police Announce Road Closures, Urge Safety for Holiday Revelers
Massachusetts State Police urge all visitors to the Esplanade on Sunday, July 3 and Monday, July 4 to be mindful of the traffic and parking restrictions in place for the annual Independence Day celebration. State Police also ask the public to obey all laws and restrictions and to respect the rights of those around them as they enjoy Sunday's rehearsal and Monday's concert and fireworks display.
State Troopers will be patrolling across the Esplanade and surrounding roadways. Troopers assigned to specialty units, including the K9 Section, Air Wing, Motorcycle Unit, Marine Section, Investigative Services Division, Hazardous Devices Section, and Tactical Operations Section will also be assisting with patrol, intelligence, and crowd and traffic control duties.
As always, State Police ask that members of the public report any suspicious activity, behavior or object to police. The public may contact a Trooper directly on the Esplanade or call 911 on a cellular phone to report something or someone suspicious. State Police are urging the public to fulfill the "See Something, Say Something" theme embraced by the law enforcement community.
Meanwhile, as the holiday weekend begins, the Massachusetts State Police remind residents and visitors that it is illegal to possess fireworks in Massachusetts without a license. (Continued)
Road Closures for July 3 and 4 are as follows. Please note that all roadways listed below will remain closed until cleanup and labor crews complete their work and are safely removed. Cleanup begins 30 minutes after the end of the fireworks display. The public is also reminded that motorists will NOT be allowed to stop their vehicles on Interstate 93 to watch the fireworks display.
Sunday, July 3
8:00 a.m.
- Esplanade walkway adjacent to Charles River closed to pedestrians from the Community Boat Club area to the Hatch Shell. Esplanade sidewalk alongside Storrow Drive remains open.
- No parking on Mugar Way from Arlington Street to Charles Street. All vehicles remaining after this time will be towed. Parking prohibition will remain in place until 6:00 a.m. July 5.
9:00 a.m.
- Esplanade curbside reserved for permitted bus parking.
- No public parking along Storrow Drive for either rehearsals or the concert.
4:00 p.m. (or a time to be determined by the Incident Commander)
- Storrow Drive closed to westbound traffic from Lee Pool to Berkeley Street. This includes the entrance from Charles Street Circle. Westbound traffic may re-enter Storrow 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 eastbound will be closed and remain so until 6:00 a.m. July 5.
- Berkeley at Beacon streets closed to vehicular traffic.
Monday, July 4
12:01 a.m.
- No parking on Memorial Drive, both sides, from Massachusetts Avenue to the Longfellow Bridge. All vehicles remaining after this time will be towed.
7:30 a.m.
- Access to both sides of Storrow Drive will be closed from Leverett Circle to Kenmore Square.
- Exit to Storrow Drive from the Tip O'Neil Tunnel closed to all traffic except emergency vehicles.
- Leverett Circle entrance to Storrow Drive westbound closed. Traffic will be allowed to travel on Msgr. O'Brien Highway to Cambridge and on Martha's Road to Boston.
- Closures will include on-ramps to Storrow from: Berkeley Street; the Charlesgate Area (heading east); Bowker Overpass from Park Drive; and Charles Street Circle (heading west). (Continued)
- No parking or boat launches at Magazine Beach area.
4:30 p.m.
- Memorial Drive in both directions is closed from Massachusetts Avenue to the Longfellow Bridge.
- Main Street, Cambridge, is closed from Third Street to the Longfellow Bridge.
- Ames Street, Cambridge, from Main Street to Memorial Drive is closed. Wadsworth and Amherst streets, Cambridge, are closed.
- Land Boulevard, Cambridge, is closed from Binney Street to the Longfellow Bridge.
- Longfellow Bridge is closed in both directions.
6:00 p.m.
- Memorial Drive from Massachusetts Avenue to the B.U. Bridge is closed.
- Massachusetts Avenue Bridge is closed in both directions.
- Vassar Street, Cambridge, closed from Massachusetts Avenue to Memorial Drive (access for residents).
11:00 p.m.
- Craigie Drawbridge at Leverett Circle to remain closed for two hours until traffic subsides. Smaller boats that can fit under the bridge while it is in down position will be allowed to pass.
Handicapped Parking
- Mass. Eye & Ear parking lot opens for vehicles with handicapped placards at 10:00 a.m. The lot will remain open until the designated handicapped-access area on the Esplanade is filled, OR the parking lot is filled, OR 6:00 p.m., whichever comes first.
- Handicapped Placard parking will be allowed on the Cambridge Parkway.
- The MBTA will run handicapped-access shuttle vans until the designated area on the Esplande is filled OR 6:00 p.m., whichever comes first.
Interstate 93
- Viewing of fireworks from Route 93 is dangerous and will not be allowed. Troopers assigned to the area will strictly enforce the "No Stopping" law.