Security Closures on Beacon Hill and Nighttime Delays on I-495 Today

State of the Commonwealth Security Closures

Welcome to your Boston commute update for Thursday, January 22, 2026. Commuters should prepare for a mix of security-related closures in the downtown area and ongoing major infrastructure work affecting regional travel. The Governor is scheduled to deliver the annual State of the Commonwealth Address at the State House today. Due to heightened security protocols, significant parking restrictions are in effect throughout Thursday on Beacon Street. Specifically, the south side of Beacon Street, on the Boston Common side, is restricted from Spruce Street to Walnut Street. Commuters who typically rely on street parking in this area should seek alternatives or consider using the MBTA. The City of Boston encourages those visiting the State House or the nearby Downtown Crossing area to walk, bike, or use public transit to avoid midday congestion.

Major Highway and Bridge Alerts

Travelers heading west of the city should prepare for delays near the I-90/I-495 interchange. MassDOT has confirmed the temporary overnight closure of Flanders Road in Westborough, which will shut down starting at 6:00 p.m. this evening and remain closed until 6:00 a.m. Friday. This closure is part of the long-term I-495/I-90 Interchange Project. Detour signage and law enforcement will be on-site to guide drivers through the work area via Route 9. Additionally, a new traffic pattern remains in place on I-495 northbound between Exits 58 and 59, which is expected to last through the spring.

In Roslindale, the Canterbury Street Bridge remains closed to all vehicular traffic until further notice following a recent safety inspection. Motorists are advised to continue following the established detour route utilizing Hyde Park Avenue and Cummins Highway. For those commuting through Allston, stay alert for the recently reconfigured construction zone on the Cambridge Street Bridge. While bike and pedestrian access was improved earlier this week, I-90 remains reduced to three lanes in each direction in the throat section as part of the Allston Multimodal project.

MBTA Service and Infrastructure Updates

The MBTA is reporting minor delays of approximately 10 minutes on the Blue Line this morning due to a signal problem at Bowdoin. Riders are also advised of several elevator outages impacting system accessibility:

• Red Line: The Broadway elevator is closed for maintenance; a shuttle bus is available to transport passengers to Andrew.
• Orange Line: Elevators at North Station and Chinatown are currently out of service.
• Orange Line: Jackson Square platform renovations are ongoing, which may make boarding difficult for some riders.

Looking ahead, a major service suspension is planned for the Blue Line between Bowdoin and Airport during the upcoming weekend for critical tunnel inspections. Free shuttle buses will be in place.

Arctic Blast Warning

Finally, commuters should prepare for a sharp drop in temperatures as an Arctic air front reaches the Northeast today. Wind chills are expected to become dangerously cold by this evening, potentially impacting outdoor transit wait times and vehicle performance. Please dress in layers and allow extra travel time for the evening rush hour.