Secret Service Could Close Artery For Convention
Proximity To FleetCenter Is Security Concern
POSTED: 7:32 a.m. EST October 30, 2003
UPDATED: 7:41 a.m. EST October 30, 2003
BOSTON -- Portions of the Central Artery, including some of the new underground southbound lanes of Interstate 93, could be closed off for security reasons during the Democratic National Convention in July, officials said.
The proximity of I-93 to the FleetCenter is a concern to the Secret Service, spokeswoman Jean Mitchell said. The southbound I-93 underground lanes, scheduled to open by the end of the year, pass just 40 feet from the FleetCenter where the convention to nominate a Democratic presidential candidate will be held from July 26 to 29.
The shutdown could last anywhere from several hours to two days and could potentially cause gridlock in the city as traffic would have to be rerouted onto surface streets.
"We're trying to secure that area for not only the protectees but also for the residents of the city," Mitchell said. "There will be traffic flow concerns. But we know that the people of Boston have to conduct their lives, so we try not to disrupt them to the extent that's possible."
As convention organizers plan for the first national political convention since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, they emphasized that no decisions have been made and the final arrangements will accommodate both commuters and convention-goers.
Julie Burns, executive director of the convention host committee, said she could not comment on security matters, but that no proposals for traffic changes had been offered.
Sean O'Neill, a spokesman for the $13.4 billion highway project known as the Big Dig, said no formal requests to shut down the artery have been made.
But U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano, D-Mass. said that the idea is "on the table." He said he is telling businesses to "consider a snow week during July" in anticipation of any shutdown.
Mitchell said no shutdown of I-93 would be ordered without extensive talks with Boston officials.
Seth Gitell, a spokesman for Mayor Thomas M. Menino, said the mayor could not comment because he had not been told about the possibilities.
Organizers have previously said that trucks and other large vehicles would probably be diverted from the Leonard Zakim-Bunker Hill Bridge before they reach the area around the FleetCenter.
Security officials also plan to shut down the MBTA's North Station stop, adjacent to the arena, and have commuter rail trains stop at temporary platforms before the station.
The Muni's will play an important role on the police side of public safety operations at the DNC.
