Hazardous material route designation

Metro-Boston Non-Radioactive Hazardous Material Route Designation

ALL Hazardous Cargo ("HC") and Cargo Tankers are prohibited from the Boston Tunnels (underground highway system).

The Non-Radioactive Hazardous Materials (“NRHM”) route designation is divided into two main categories as follows: (1) Restricted Route for ALL NRHM and (2) Designated NRHM Route. Each route is identified with one or more restriction or designation codes which follow the route description. Restriction codes identify which materials may not be transported along the given route, while designation codes indicate which materials the routing authority has determined should be shipped along the preferred/recommended or prescribed route. For more details, please see MassDOT’s Notice of Regulation for Metro-Boston Non-Radioactive Hazardous Material Route Designation.

Table of Contents

Daytime (6 a.m. to 8 p.m.) Hazardous Cargo/Material Through Route:

From North of Boston along I-93 (Preferred/Recommended Route):

  • Take I-93 North or Southbound to Exit 28B in Woburn for I-95 (Route 128) southbound towards Waltham
  • Follow I-95 Southbound to points south, east and west of Boston

*Hazardous Cargo may travel as far south on I-93 as Exit 18, but will be restricted from traveling through Downtown Boston to points south. Only local deliveries within Boston will be permitted to travel in Downtown Boston.

From South of Boston along I-93(Preferred/Recommended Route):

  • Take I-93 Southbound to where it turns into I-95 north (Route 128) in Canton and travel towards Dedham/Portsmouth, NH
  • Follow I-95 Northbound to points north, east and west of Boston

*Hazardous Cargo may travel as far north on I-93 as Exit 15B, but will be restricted from traveling through Downtown Boston to points south. Only local deliveries within Boston will be permitted to travel in Downtown Boston.

Through Routing of all Hazardous Cargo is RESTRICTED from Downtown Boston during the Daytime Hours (6 a.m. to 8 p.m.).

Nighttime (8 p.m.to 6 a.m.) Hazardous Cargo/Material Through Route:

From North of Boston along I-93 (Prescribed Route):

  • Take I-93 Southbound to Exit 18 (Route 38) towards Sullivan Square/Charlestown
  • Follow Route 38 south to Maffa Way
  • Follow Maffa Way south to Cambridge Street
  • Take right onto Rutherford Avenue and head continue southbound
  • Stay straight and head south on North Washington Street
  • From North Washington Street, continue southwest onto John F. Fitzgerald Surface Road
  • From Surface Road continue south to Purchase Street
  • Purchase Street rejoins Surface Road southbound
  • Continue south to Albany Street
  • Proceed straight to the I-93 Frontage Road southbound
  • Enter I-93 Southbound

*Due to the restriction of hazardous cargo in the I-93 tunnel system, signs are posted to alert all drivers that Exit 18 (Leverett Circle/Storrow Drive) is the last exit before the tunnel. Should NHRM vehicles get off I-93 Southbound at Exit 18, follow the route listed below back to the Prescribe Route noted above:

  • From Exit 18 (Leverett Circle/Storrow Drive) off of I-93 Southbound
  • Take a right onto Nashua Street inbound (towards the TD Garden)
  • From Nashua Street take a left onto Lomasney Way
  • From Lomasney Way, take a left onto Causeway Street
  • Follow Causeway Street past the TD Garden
  • Take sharp right onto North Washington Street
  • From North Washington Street, continue southwest onto John F. Fitzgerald Surface Road
  • From Surface Road continue south to Purchase Street
  • Purchase Street rejoins Surface Road southbound
  • Continue south to Albany Street
  • Proceed straight to the I-93 Frontage Road southbound
  • Enter I-93 Southbound

From South of Boston along I-93 (Prescribed Route):

  • Take I-93 Northbound to Exit 15B (Mass Ave/Frontage Road)
  • From Exit 15B continue north on Frontage Road
  • Proceed north to the South Station/Downtown on-ramp
  • At the end of the ramp proceed straight onto Atlantic Ave northbound
  • Continue north on Cross Street
  • Stay straight onto North Washington Street
  • Continue north on Rutherford Avenue towards Sullivan Square
  • At the Sullivan Square Rotary, follow the signs to I-93 Northbound (this is Mystic Avenue)
  • Follow Mystic Avenue northbound to the I-93 North on-ramp at Assembly Square
  • Proceed onto I-93 Northbound

Note: There are hazardous cargo (HC) trailblazer signs through Downtown Boston that follow the prescribed NHRM route and direct HC to Interstate 93 North and South of the City of Boston.

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