The Callahan Tunnel Rehabilitation Project is underway starting December 27th, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (Mass Dot).

The 52-year-old Callahan Tunnel, which takes you out of Downtown Boston to Logan Airport and sees over 30,000 cars per day, is shut down for months.

“We expect a couple of days or so for folks to get acclimated. Large signs alerting drivers to detours were expected to appear on southbound Interstate 93 just north of the city Thursday night.” Massachusetts Department of Transportation spokesman Mike Verseckes said.

Three months beginning Dec 27th through March 2014 will see a complete closure. Then a second phase of work will take place between March 13, 2014 to late August 2014. The tunnel will remain open to traffic during the day, but will be closed overnight from 11 PM to 5 AM from August to mid-November 2014.

The Callahan Tunnel, which opened in 1961, is in need of a full rehabilitation. Construction workers will be repairing the deck, wall panels, and vents, which was decided after a wall panel fell recently.

Travelers will have to use the Ted Williams Tunnel, Route 16 to Route 1A, the Tobin Bridge, or the South Boston Bypass until the Callahan reopens March 12, Massachusetts Department of Transportation spokesman Mike Verseckes said.

MassDOT engineers and several stakeholders are working together to make sure the project is completed in a manner that has the shortest possible duration of impact on mobility and that has predictable work hours and consistent, well-marked detour routes.

Although it will be an inconvenience to many Bostonian’s – the repairs are necessary.

Boston.com has issued a Callahan detour guide for anyone unsure of alternate routes.

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