Boston Navy Week Means Tall Ships, Blue Angels and Parking Headaches

Boston always puts on a show for the Fourth of July but this year Boston Navy Week — with sailing in — makes it a week-long extravaganza. 

The event helps commemorate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. Ships have docked all around Boson Harbor, including at the Charlestown Navy Yard near Old Ironsides, the Fish Pier and Massport's Marine Terminal in South Boston. 

The public can tour the old tall ships, get a glimpse of modern war ships including the USS Wasp aircraft carrier and the destroyer USS Gravely, Coast Guard ships and ships from other countries.

The Blue Angels will perform an air show on July 4, and there will be demostrations by the Leapfrogs, the Navy's parachute team. 

Here is the schedule of events for Boston Navy Week, including tours of the Tall Ships, naval vessels  and the Blue Angels. 

All the events and activities mean traffic and parking will be a bit of a challenge in Boston. 

State officials released the following restrictions and alerts: 

The Massachusetts State Police, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Department of Transportation, and the Massachusetts Port Authority Police announce the following traffic and parking restrictions for state roads and reservations for two upcoming events, the 1812 Bicentennial Event and the July 3-4 Esplanade celebration. As heavy traffic is expected, visitors to the events are urged to use public transportation whenever possible.

FRIDAY, JUNE 29 (US Navy ships expected to arrive in Boston)

South Boston

• NO PARKING will be allowed on the following DCR Roadways in South Boston from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.:
• No street parking on Day Boulevard from Castle Island to East Broadway Extension (Farragut Statue), both sides;
• No parking on Shore Road, both sides;
• No parking on Day Boulevard from L Street to G Street, both sides.

The MBTA will run shuttle buses from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from the JFK/UMass Red Line station to Castle Island. The bus fee is $3 for adults, while up to two children under 12 ride free when accompanied by a paying adult.

Motorists should expect heavy traffic and congestion on DCR roads as a result of parking and roadway restrictions. Affected roadways include Kosciusko and Preble Circles, Day Boulevard, Old Colony Road, Babe Ruth Drive, and Shore Road.  Parking on Castle Island will be severely reduced to provide access for the planned MBTA bus shuttle.

Seaport District

NO STREET PARKING will be allowed on the following roadways in the Seaport District from the afternoon of Friday, June 29 through the morning of Friday, July 6:

• Congress Street from B Street to Northern Avenue;
• Northern Avenue from B Street to Congress Street.

Additionally, Massachusetts State Police will monitor pedestrian traffic in the Seaport for the duration of the 1812 events and may close lanes on the above roadways to accommodate pedestrians if necessary.

SATURDAY, JUNE 30 (Tall Ships expected to arrive in Boston)

South Boston 

• NO PARKING will be allowed on the following DCR Roadways in South Boston from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.:
• No street parking on Day Boulevard from Castle  Island to East Broadway Extension (Farragut Statue), both sides;
• No Parking on Shore Road, both sides;
• No parking on Day Boulevard from L street to G Street, both sides. 

The MBTA will run shuttle buses from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. from the JFK/UMass Red Line station to Castle Island. The bus fee is $3 for adults, while up to two children under 12 ride free when accompanied by a paying adult.

Motorists should expect heavy traffic and congestion on DCR roads as a result of parking and roadway restrictions. Affected roadways include Kosciusko and Preble Circles, Day Boulevard, Old Colony Road, Babe Ruth Drive, and Shore Road.  Parking on Castle Island will be severely reduced to provide access for the planned MBTA bus shuttle.

Seaport District 

NO STREET PARKING will be allowed on the following roadways in the Seaport District from the afternoon of Friday, June 29 through the morning of Friday, July 6:

• Congress Street from B Street to Northern Avenue;
• Northern Avenue from B Street to Congress Street.

Additionally, Massachusetts State Police will monitor pedestrian traffic in the Seaport for the duration of the 1812 events and may close lanes on the above roadways to accommodate pedestrians if necessary. 

TUESDAY, JULY 3 (Continuation of War of 1812 Commemoration Events; Concert Rehearsal on Esplanade)

Seaport District

NO STREET PARKING will be allowed on the following roadways in the Seaport District from the afternoon of Friday, June 29 through the morning of Friday, July 6:

• Congress Street from B Street to Northern Avenue;
• Northern Avenue from B Street to Congress Street.

Additionally, Massachusetts State Police will monitor pedestrian traffic in the Seaport for the duration of the 1812 events and may close lanes on the above roadways to accommodate pedestrians if necessary.

Esplanade 

• 9 a.m.: No public parking along Storrow Drive.
• 4 p.m.: Storrow Drive will be closed to westbound traffic. Please note that it may be closed earlier if determined necessary by the incident commander.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4  (Continuation of War of 1812 Commemoration Events, including Blue Angels/Airplane Flyovers; USS Constitution Turn-Around; Esplanade Concert and Fireworks Display)

South Boston

• NO PARKING will be allowed on the following DCR Roadways in South Boston from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.:
• No street parking on Day Boulevard from Castle  Island to East Broadway Extension (Farragut Statue), both sides;
• No Parking on Shore Road, both sides;
• No parking on Day Boulevard from L Street to G Street.

The MBTA will run shuttle buses to Castle Island from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from two locations: the JFK/Umass Red Line station AND the UMass Expo Center off Mount Vernon Street. Please note the additional shuttle bus location (Expo Center) for this day only. 

Seaport District 

NO STREET PARKING will be allowed on the following roadways in the Seaport District from the afternoon of Friday, June 29 through the morning of Friday, July 6:

• Congress Street from B Street to Northern Avenue;
• Northern Avenue from B Street to Congress Street.

Additionally, Massachusetts State Police will monitor pedestrian traffic in the Seaport for the duration of the 1812 events and may close lanes on the above roadways to accommodate pedestrians if necessary.

Esplanade

• 12 a.m.: No public parking on either side of Storrow Drive or Memorial Drive.
• 7 a.m.: Both sides of Storrow Drive closed to traffic. Pedestrian footbridges to Esplanade from Charles Street Circle and Beacon Street will be closed, as will Mugar Way at Beacon Street. Pedestrians wishing to enter the Esplanade will b e directed down Beacon Street to Berkley Street for entry.
• 4:30 p.m.: Memorial Drive closed in both directions from Massachusetts Avenue to Longfellow Bridge. Longfellow Bridge closed in both directions (bridge may be closed earlier at order of incident commander depending on traffic and pedestrian flow).
• 6 p.m.: Memorial Drive closed from Massachusetts Avenue to Boston University Bridge(the pedestrian and vehicular traffic on Memorial Drive will be monitored continuously, and the incident commander will determine if the road needs to be closed at an earlier time).Massachusetts Avenue Bridge closed in both directions (bridge may be closed earlier at order of incident commander depending on traffic and pedestrian flow).
• Parking for motorists with disabilities: The Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary will open for vehicles with placards at 10 a.m. It will close at 6 p.m. or when it is full, whichever comes first. MBTA shuttle vans for people with disabilities will operate from the lot until it closes. Vans for the return trip will stage on Storrow Drive eastbound. Parking for people with disabilities will also be allowed on the Cambridge Parkway.
• Cleanup begins 30 minutes after the fireworks finale. All roads will remain closed until labor crews are safely removed.

Interstate 93

Viewing of the fireworks display from Interstate 93 is dangerous, and is strongly discouraged. Troopers will be assigned to the relevant stretch of I-93 to strictly enforce the “No Stopping” law.