Delayed Boston Tunnel Project Irks Residents, Local Officials

"The rebuilding of the Storrow Drive tunnel - a controversial project that threatens to disrupt life in one of Boston's most beloved riverside parks - is being postponed.

The commissioner of Conservation and Recreation, who controls the rebuilding of the 55-year-old decaying tunnel, has delayed filing a key environmental impact report that would move the project forward. And the lead engineering consultant on the project has told associates to "please hold off on doing any more work on the project unless we specifically ask for something," according to portions of a memo e-mailed to a Globe reporter.

The question for residents who use the Charles River Esplanade walkways and bike paths and the 100,000 commuters who travel the tunnel daily is: How long? Officials do not want to commit to a timetable, even as they acknowledge that the roadway will need millions of dollars in interim repairs."