Boston Traffic Cameras
Monitor 1,500+ live traffic cameras across Boston and the Greater Boston metro area. Our interactive map provides real-time access to live street feeds and intersection cameras throughout the Back Bay, Seaport District, and downtown core. Real-time views of the Big Dig tunnels, Zakim Bridge, Mass Pike, I-93 Central Artery, Route 128, and Logan Airport access routes. Check conditions before navigating the city's complex underground highway system.
View Boston Cameras →Boston's traffic network is among the most complex in North America, featuring the result of the $15 billion Big Dig infrastructure project that buried the central highway underground. According to the INRIX 2024 Global Traffic Scorecard, Boston drivers lost an average of 79 hours to traffic congestion in 2024, ranking it as the 4th worst city for traffic in the United States and 12th globally.
In 2023, the average Boston driver spent approximately 88 hours stuck in traffic, with average speeds for downtown trips measured at just 13 mph—the second-slowest in the nation. The regional metropolitan area, which reached a population of 4.9 million by 2023, continues to face significant travel time reliability issues, particularly on I-93 South.
The city's unique layout includes miles of tunnels, iconic bridges, and intricate interchanges that require real-time monitoring to navigate effectively. Users can also monitor live street feeds along Boylston Street and Congress Street to check for road-level gridlock near the Boston Common or Fan Pier.
Research published by the Federal Highway Administration found that access to real-time traffic camera feeds reduces secondary accident rates by up to 30% by enabling faster incident detection and response. This is essential in Boston, where MassDOT real-time feeds help monitor complex tunnel merges and weather-sensitive bridges like the Zakim.
Boston's Highway Network
The Greater Boston area features multiple highway systems that converge on the city center, many running through underground tunnels constructed during the Big Dig project.
I-93 Central Artery
The backbone of Boston's north-south corridor, I-93 runs through the heart of the city via the underground Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. Tunnel. Key segments include:
- Zakim Bridge - Iconic cable-stayed bridge crossing the Charles River (northbound/southbound split)
- O'Neill Tunnel - 1.5-mile underground section through downtown
- Massachusetts Avenue Connector - I-93/I-90 interchange underground
- Braintree Split - I-93/Route 3 junction south of the city
I-93 Critical Segments
Zakim Bridge to Braintree - 12 miles, heavy volume 6:30-9:30 AM southbound, 3:30-7 PM northbound. O'Neill Tunnel incidents cause immediate backups with no alternate route.
Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90)
The Mass Pike runs east-west through Boston, connecting downtown to Logan Airport via multiple tunnels:
- Ted Williams Tunnel - Connects I-90 to Logan Airport (tolled)
- Prudential Tunnel - Underground segment through Back Bay
- Allston Interchange - I-90/I-95 split, major construction ongoing
- Weston Tolls - Western gateway to metro Boston
Tunnel Delays
Logan Airport access through Ted Williams Tunnel requires 45-60 minute buffer during rush hours. Sumner and Callahan tunnels provide alternate routes but face similar congestion. Check cameras before departing for flights.
Route 128 / I-95
The circumferential highway around Boston, Route 128 (concurrent with I-95 north and south) serves as the primary bypass:
- Northern Section - I-95 through Peabody, Woburn, Waltham
- Western Section - Route 128 through Needham, Dedham
- Southern Section - I-95 through Canton, Sharon
- Major Interchanges - I-93, I-90, Route 3, Route 2
Boston Camera Coverage
Downtown Core
I-93 O'Neill Tunnel, Zakim Bridge, Mass Ave Connector, I-90 interchanges
Airport Access
Ted Williams Tunnel, Sumner Tunnel, Callahan Tunnel, Route 1A
Western Suburbs
Mass Pike I-90, Route 128/I-95, Route 2, Allston interchange
North Shore
Route 1 (Tobin Bridge), I-95 north, Route 128 northern arc
South Shore
I-93 south, Route 3 to Cape Cod, Route 128 southern arc
Rush Hour Patterns
Boston's traffic follows predictable but severe rush hour patterns, complicated by tunnel bottlenecks and limited alternate routes.
Peak Traffic Windows
Morning Rush: 6:30-9:30 AM (worst 7:30-8:45 AM) - Inbound I-93, I-90, Route 2 heavily congested. O'Neill Tunnel backups extend to Route 128.
Evening Rush: 3:30-7:00 PM (worst 4:30-6:00 PM) - Outbound on all major routes. Ted Williams Tunnel delays, Zakim Bridge slowdowns, Route 128 parking lot conditions.
Friday Afternoons: Cape Cod exodus begins 1:00 PM. Route 3 south gridlock from Braintree to Sagamore Bridge.
Special Event Traffic
Boston's sports and cultural venues create significant traffic impacts:
- Fenway Park (Red Sox) - Affects Brookline, I-90, Route 9
- TD Garden (Bruins/Celtics) - North Station area, I-93, Zakim Bridge
- Boston Marathon - Citywide road closures third Monday in April
- College Move-In - Late August/early September chaos near universities
Check Current Conditions
View live cameras across Boston's highway network, tunnels, and bridges. Monitor conditions before your commute or trip to Logan Airport.
View Live Cameras →Seasonal Challenges
Boston traffic faces distinct seasonal patterns that dramatically affect driving conditions.
Winter Weather
New England winters create hazardous conditions that require constant camera monitoring:
First Snow Chaos
The first snowfall of the season causes citywide gridlock. Drivers forget winter driving skills, accidents spike, and untreated roads become ice rinks. The Zakim Bridge ices over faster than other routes due to elevation and river exposure.
Winter Trouble Spots:
- Zakim Bridge - Black ice forms on bridge deck before road surfaces
- Storrow Drive - Flooding during snowmelt, ice dams near underpasses
- Route 128 - Multi-vehicle pileups in snow squalls
- Tunnel Entrances - Ice buildup at O'Neill and Ted Williams portals
Summer Tourism
Summer brings peak tourism and Cape Cod traffic:
- Friday Afternoons - Route 3 south to Cape Cod becomes parking lot from 1 PM
- Sunday Evenings - Reverse exodus, Route 3 north backups to Sagamore Bridge
- Harbor Tunnel Traffic - Beach-bound travelers clog Logan Airport routes
- Construction Season - Major road projects concentrate in summer months
Logan Airport Access
Boston Logan International Airport access requires strategic route planning during peak hours:
Airport Route Options
Ted Williams Tunnel (I-90) - Primary route from downtown/south, tolled, heaviest traffic.
Sumner Tunnel (Route 1A) - Inbound only from North Shore, frequent backups.
Callahan Tunnel (Route 1A) - Outbound only from airport, congestion during flight arrival waves.
Airport Timing Strategy
Add 45-60 minute buffer during morning (6:30-9:30 AM) and evening (3:30-7 PM) rush hours. Check Ted Williams Tunnel cameras before departure. Consider Blue Line subway for downtown departures.
Regional Connections
Boston serves as the hub for New England traffic, with major routes connecting to regional cities:
- Providence, RI - I-95 south, 50 miles
- Hartford, CT - I-90 west to I-91, 100 miles
- Manchester, NH - I-93 north, 50 miles
- Portland, ME - I-95 north, 100 miles
- Cape Cod - Route 3 south, 70 miles to Provincetown
Massachusetts Coverage
Access cameras statewide through our Massachusetts traffic cameras guide. Covers Mass Pike full length, I-495 outer loop, Route 24, Route 146, and regional highways.
Platform Features
Our platform provides comprehensive traffic monitoring tools designed for Boston's complex network:
Real-Time Updates - Live camera feeds refresh every 5-15 seconds for current conditions
Tunnel Coverage - Underground cameras in O'Neill, Ted Williams, Sumner, and Callahan tunnels
Bridge Monitoring - Zakim Bridge, Tobin Bridge, and Charles River crossings
Mobile Access - Check conditions from anywhere, save favorite camera locations
Route Planning - Build custom routes with cameras along your commute path
Start Monitoring Traffic
Access 1,500+ Boston area cameras covering every major highway, tunnel, and bridge. Free account includes unlimited camera views and route saving.
Create Free Account →FAQ
How many traffic cameras cover Boston?
Our platform provides access to 1,500+ cameras across the Boston metro area, including downtown tunnels, I-93 corridor, Mass Pike, Route 128 circumferential, and all Logan Airport access routes.
Can I see inside the Big Dig tunnels?
Yes. Cameras monitor the O'Neill Tunnel (I-93), Ted Williams Tunnel (I-90 to Logan), and all major underground segments. These cameras are critical since tunnel incidents have no alternate routes.
What causes the worst Boston traffic?
The evening rush (4:30-6 PM) creates the worst conditions, particularly outbound I-93, Mass Pike through Allston, and Route 128. Friday afternoons add Cape Cod traffic on Route 3. First snowfall causes citywide gridlock.
How early should I leave for Logan Airport?
Add 45-60 minutes during rush hours (6:30-9:30 AM and 3:30-7 PM). Check Ted Williams Tunnel cameras before leaving. Sumner Tunnel (inbound) and Callahan Tunnel (outbound) are alternates but face similar delays.
Does the platform cover Route 128?
Yes. Full coverage of Route 128/I-95 circumferential highway from I-95 north through the western arc to I-95 south, including all major interchanges with I-93, I-90, Route 3, and Route 2.
Where can I find Boston street feeds?
You can find live Boston street feeds and intersection cameras by using our interactive map, which aggregates MassDOT data for major surface routes like Commonwealth Avenue and Storrow Drive.
Monitor Boston Traffic Live
Access 1,500+ traffic cameras and city street feeds across Boston's highways, tunnels, and bridges. Real-time monitoring of the Big Dig infrastructure, Logan Airport routes, and all major corridors. Free account, no credit card required.
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