Massachusetts State Police Have Parking Advice for Boston Fireworks Spectators

The Massachusetts State Police want all visitors to the Esplanade in Boston Monday, July 4 to be aware of traffic and parking restrictions that will be in place for the city's annual Independence Day celebration.

State Police encourage visitors to obey all laws and restrictions and to respect the rights of people around them as they enjoy Monday’s concert and fireworks display.

Troopers assigned to specialty units including K9, Air Wing, Motorcycle, Marine, Investigative Services, Tactical Operations and Hazardous Devices will be patrolling the area across the Esplanade and surrounding roadways, handling intelligence and crowd and traffic control duties.

People are encouraged to remeber the law enforcement advice of "see something, say something" and report any suspicious activity or behavior to police by calling 911. 

Police have put several parking restrictions and suggestions in place:

Interstate 93:

• Viewing of fireworks from Route 93 is dangerous and will not be allowed. State troopers assigned to 93 will enforce the “No Stopping” law.

Handicapped Parking:

• Mass. Eye & Ear parking lot opens for vehicles with handicapped placards at 10 a.m. The lot will remain open until the designated handicapped-access area on the Esplanade is filled, OR the parking lot is filled, or 6 p.m., whichever comes first.
• Handicapped Placard parking will be allowed on the Cambridge Parkway.
• The MBTA will run handicapped-access shuttle vans until the designated area on the Esplande is filled or 6 p.m., whichever comes first.

 Beginning at 12:01 a.m.

• No parking on Memorial Drive, both sides, from Massachusetts Avenue to the Longfellow Bridge. All vehicles remaining after this time will be towed.

Beginning at 7:30 a.m.

• Access to both sides of Storrow Drive will be closed from Leverett Circle to Kenmore Square. 
• Exit to Storrow Drive from the Tip O’Neil Tunnel closed to all traffic except emergency vehicles.
• Leverett Circle entrance to Storrow Drive westbound closed. Traffic will be allowed to travel on Msgr. O’Brien Highway to Cambridge and on Martha’s Road to Boston.
• Closures will include on-ramps to Storrow from: Berkeley Street; the Charlesgate Area (heading east); Bowker Overpass from Park Drive; and Charles Street Circle (heading west).
• No parking or boat launches at Magazine Beach area.

Beginnig at 4:30 p.m.

• Memorial Drive in both directions is closed from Massachusetts Avenue to the Longfellow Bridge.
• Main Street, Cambridge, is closed from Third Street to the Longfellow Bridge.
• Ames Street, Cambridge, from Main Street to Memorial Drive is closed. Wadsworth and Amherst streets,Cambridge, are closed.
• Land Boulevard, Cambridge, is closed from Binney Street to the Longfellow Bridge.
• Longfellow Bridge is closed in both directions.

Beginningat 6:00 p.m.

• Memorial Drive from Massachusetts Avenue to the B.U. Bridge is closed.
• Massachusetts Avenue Bridge is closed in both directions.
• Vassar Street, Cambridge, closed from Massachusetts Avenue to Memorial Drive (access for residents).

Beginning at 11:00 p.m.

• Craigie Drawbridge at Leverett Circle to remain closed for two hours until traffic subsides. Smaller boats that can fit under the bridge while it is in down position will be allowed to pass.