Holiday Road Closures and Other Important Information for July 2-4 in Boston and Cambridge

Holiday Road Closures & Other Traffic Information July 2-4

Please be aware of major traffic impacts in the days prior to and day of Boston’s Fourth of July festivities on the Esplanade. The following vehicular and pedestrian traffic restrictions that will be in place for Cambridge and Boston’s July 4^th  celebration. All roadways will remain closed (unless noted otherwise) until the Department of Conservation and Recreation has an opportunity to clean the roadways. Please note one significant change from last year: Due to ongoing construction, there will be no fireworks viewing allowed from the Longfellow Bridge. These closures will be updated as needed.

Wednesday, 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.  

Thursday, July 3:

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.) 

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. The exit to Arlington Street from the Storrow Tunnel (eastbound) shall be closed until 6 a.m. July 5.
3. 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.
4. Berkeley Street at Beacon Street will be closed to vehicular traffic.
5. 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.   

Friday, July 4:

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).

1. No Parking at Magazine Beach and Pool, Riverside Boat Club and the MWRA pump station (Cottage Farm). No boat launching in this area.
2. Pedestrian Footbridge at Charles Street Circle going to the Esplanade closed.
3. Fiedler Footbridge from Beacon Street going to the Esplanade closed. 

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. 

10:15 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.

Miscellaneous: 

Handicapped Parking- July 4:

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 handicap 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. MBTA handicap shuttle vans (The Ride) will cease operation when the handicap area is filled or at 6 p.m., whichever comes first.
4. Vans for the return trip will stage on Storrow Drive Eastbound, facing east from the fence opening. When the area becomes clear for the movement of guests seated in the handicap area, they will be escorted across Storrow Drive to staged shuttle vans.
5. Handicap parking will also be accommodated on Cambridge Parkway. 

Clean-Up:

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. 

Interstate 93:

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. 

For more information, follow Cambridge Police Department @CambridgePolice on Twitter, or access the department’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CambridgePolice.

Cambridge Police Dept. Text-A-Tip Line for July 3-4 on the Esplanade 
The Cambridge Police Department, in conjunction with the Massachusetts State Police, Boston Police Department and surrounding law enforcement agencies, have once again established a dedicated Text-A-Tip line for this year’s July 3 and 4 celebrations in and around the Esplanade in Boston. Anyone at the event or in the area of the Esplanade who sees anyone or anything suspicious or out-of-the ordinary, or anything that just doesn’t look right, is urged to contact police by either calling 911 or texting a tip. Additionally, anyone who has any information about any suspicious activity anywhere that may be connected to the event is likewise urged to call 911 or use the Text-A-Tip line.

The Text-A-Tip numeric address for this year’s July 3 and 4 event is 67283. Texters should then enter the characters B4 as the first two characters of their text.

If you see something, say something.

Remember … Text B4 and your tip to 67283.

July 3^rd & 4^th on the Esplanade: What You Can & Cannot Bring

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 26, 2014 – To ensure the safety of all visitors to the Esplanade, the following rules will be strictly enforced for the rehearsal concert on July 3 and the concert and fireworks show on July 4. Unless noted below, no backpacks, shopping bags or similar type containers may be carried onto the Esplanade, and all carried items are subject to inspection. Please note the new regulation requiring bicycles.

Prohibited Items

1. No coolers on wheels.
2. No backpacks.
3. No firearms, weapons, sharp objects or fireworks.
4. No glass containers.
5. No cans.
6. No pre-mixed beverages.
7. All liquids will be carried in sealed clear plastic containers not to exceed 2 liters in size.
8. No grilling, propane tanks or open flames.
9. No Alcoholic beverages.
10. No bicycles will be allowed through the checkpoints into the Oval or Island/Lagoon areas. Bicycles are allowed throughout the rest of the venue but must not be left unattended. Bicycles attached or locked to security fences, poles, or other structures may be subject to removal. No bicycles will be allowed through the checkpoints into the Oval or Island/Lagoon areas. Bicycles are allowed throughout the rest of the venue but must not be left unattended. (This measure is being enacted for public safety and crowd management in the event a speedy evacuation becomes necessary at the Esplanade.)

Allowed Items

1. Pop up Tents/Canopies with no sides - maximum size 10’ x10’.
   (Above for July 4^th only; No Tents/Canopies allowed on July 3^rd)
2. Blankets or tarps no bigger than 10’ x 10’.
3. Folding/Beach Chairs only.
4. Coolers, which must be carried in by shoulder strap or single handle (no wheeled coolers).
5. All personal items must be carried in clear bags only.
6. After inspection, Small clutch bags/purses may be taken into the venue with the clear bag.