July 2nd 3rd and 4th on the Esplanade Road Closures and Other Traffic Information

The following vehicular and pedestrian traffic restrictions will be in place for Cambridge and Boston’s July 4th celebration. All roadways will remain closed (unless noted otherwise) until the Department of Conservation and Recreation has an opportunity to clean the roadways. As was the case last year, there will be no fireworks viewing allowed from the Longfellow Bridge due to ongoing construction on the bridge.



Also, please note that this year the Red Sox are playing home games on both Sunday, July 3 and Monday, July 4. Sox fans who drive to the games are reminded that there will be closures of portions of Storrow Drive on both days; those fans, as well as anyone else who would be using Storrow on those days, may wish to seek alternate routes.

These closures will be updated as needed.

Saturday, July 2

7 a.m.:

1. No parking on Mugar Way from Arlington Street to Charles Street until 6 a.m. on July 5. All vehicles remaining will be removed.

6 a.m.:

1. Right hand travel lane on Storrow Drive westbound will be closed.

7 a.m.:

1. Esplanade walkway adjacent to the Charles River closed to pedestrians and bicyclists from the area of the Community Boat Club to the front of the concession stand. All pedestrians and bicyclists will be directed to the sidewalk adjacent to Storrow Drive until approximately 3 p.m.

2. Oval area closed to public for Pops rehearsal (Will re-open at approximately 5 p.m., or as determined by Boston 4 Productions and the Incident Commander.)

3. The exit to Arlington Street from the Storrow Tunnel (eastbound) shall be closed until 6 a.m. on July 5.

9 a.m.:

1. Esplanade curbside reserved for permitted bus parking from the Longfellow Bridge westbound to the Fielder Footbridge.

2. Traffic will continue west bound on Storrow Drive

3. There will be no public parking along Storrow Drive for either the rehearsals or the concert.

3 p.m. (Or a time to be determined by the Incident Commander):

1. Storrow Drive will be closed to westbound traffic from the Lee Pool to the Bowker Overpass. All westbound traffic will be diverted to Charles Street Circle. Westbound traffic may re-enter Storrow Drive westbound by heading down Charles Street, to Beacon Street, to the westbound entrance at the Bowker Overpass.

2. Mugar Way at Beacon Street will be closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. This will remain closed until the early morning hours of July 5. Pedestrians will be directed to Berkeley Street for entrance to the Esplanade.

3. Berkeley Street at Beacon Street will be closed to vehicular traffic.

4. Storrow Drive Eastbound will be closed and detoured at the Bowker Overpass. It will remain closed until July 5, at a time to be determined by the Incident Commander.

12 a.m.:

1. No parking on Memorial Drive (either side) from 450 Memorial Drive to the Longfellow Bridge. All vehicles remaining after this time will be removed.

2. No parking on Cambridge Parkway.

7 a.m.:

1. Access to Storrow Drive westbound from Leverett Circle to Kenmore Square (Bowker Overpass) will be closed to traffic.

2. The righthand travel lane on Charles River Dam Road will be closed from Museum Way to Leverett Circle.

3. The Storrow Drive Exit Ramp in the Tip O’Neill Tunnel will be closed to all traffic except emergency vehicles.

4. 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 Way to Boston.

5. The following Storrow Drive on and off ramp closures will remain in effect from July 3:

• Berkeley Street;

• Charlesgate Area (heading eastbound);

• Bowker Overpass from Park Drive and the Fenway;

• Charles Street Circle.(heading westbound).

6. No Parking at Magazine Beach and Pool, Riverside Boat Club and the MWRA pump station (Cottage Farm). No boat launching in this area.

7. Pedestrian Footbridge at Charles Street Circle going to the Esplanade closed.

8. Fiedler Footbridge from Beacon Street going to the Esplanade closed.

12 p.m.:

1. A lane on the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge going from Boston to Cambridge will be closed. This lane will remain closed for the remainder of time the bridge remains open (entire bridge closes to vehicles and pedestrians at 4 p.m.)

3 p.m.:

1. No access to Storrow Dr. westbound from the Kenmore Square (Bowker Overpass).

2. No access to Storrow Dr. westbound from the Beacon St. on-ramp under the Bowker Overpass.

3. Storrow Drive eastbound will be detoured at University Avenue.

4 p.m.:

1. Memorial Drive in both directions from Massachusetts Avenue to the Longfellow Bridge closed to vehicular traffic.

2. Main Street, Cambridge, from Third Street to the Longfellow Bridge closed to vehicular traffic.

3. Ames Street from Main Street to Memorial Drive, Cambridge, closed to vehicular traffic.

4. Wadsworth and Amherst Streets, Cambridge, closed to vehicular traffic.

5. Land Boulevard (Cambridge) from Binney Street to Longfellow Bridge closed to vehicular traffic.

6. Hayward, Carlton, Charlotte’s Way and Dock Streets in Cambridge, closed to vehicular traffic.

7. Access allowed to One Memorial Drive only with issued permit.

8. Longfellow Bridge closed to vehicular traffic. Pedestrians will be allowed on the downstream side (only side open due to construction).

9. Due to construction, the Longfellow Bridge will be closed to pedestrian traffic from approximately 9 p.m. until the end of the fireworks. Due to the construction, no fireworks viewing from the Longfellow Bridge will be allowed.

10. Mass. Ave. Bridge closed in both directions to vehicular and pedestrian traffic from Beacon Street in Boston to Vassar Street in Cambridge. As in previous years, no fireworks viewing from the Mass. Ave. Bridge will be allowed.

11. Memorial Drive from Mass Ave to the BU Bridge closed to vehicular traffic. Vehicular access will be allowed for patrons going to the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Hyatt patrons will be directed to the Vassar Street road closure.

12. Vassar Street in Cambridge from Mass Ave to Memorial Drive closed to vehicular traffic. Access will be allowed for residents and Hyatt patrons.

13. Cambridge Parkway closed to vehicular traffic except, it will remain open to vehicles with Handicap Placards/plates only. All vehicles must be removed from Cambridge Parkway by 1 a.m. on July 5.

10:30 p.m.:

1. Third Street in Cambridge becomes one way from Main Street to Msgr. O’Brien Highway.

2. Craigie Drawbridge (at Leverett Circle) to remain closed for approximately 2 hours to allow traffic to subside.

3. Smaller boats that can pass under bridge while in the down position will be allowed to pass.

All closures are subject to change at the discretion of the Incident Commander.

1. 12 p.m.: Mass. Eye & Ear Storrow parking lot opens for vehicles displaying handicap placards/plates. HP placards/plates are needed for entry to the lot. (Entrance for the parking lot is through Charles Circle).

2. The Mass Eye & Ear lot will close when the designated disabilities-parking area at the Esplanade is filled, the allotted parking area at the specified Mass. Eye & Ear lot is filled or at 6 p.m., whichever occurs first.

3. Parking for people with disabilities will also be allowed on Cambridge Parkway.

1. Clean-up begins 30 minutes after the fireworks display has concluded.

2. All roadways will remain closed until clean and labor crews are safely removed.

3. If practicable, there will be an attempt to open the roadways in the following order:

a) Mass Ave Bridge;

b) Longfellow Bridge;

c) Memorial Drive;

d) Storrow Drive, Bowker Overpass, Charlesgate Area, Charles Circle.

1. Viewing of fireworks display from I-93 is dangerous and prohibited. State troopers assigned to this area will strictly ensure that there is no stopping to watch the fireworks.

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