A large group of people riding dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles crowded the Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill Jr. Tunnel at one point Sunday afternoon, causing delays and backups on Interstate 93 South and raising safety concerns.
State Police said that just before 5 p.m., they were notified of the group, which got off at Exit 18 for Massachusetts Avenue.
This is the second encounter State Police have had with such vehicles inside the tunnel, State Police spokesman Dave Procopio said. The first encounter happened two to three years ago, he said. State Police have also seen dirt bikers on other parts of the interstate.
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“It’s illegal and unacceptable,” Procopio said. “These vehicles cannot legally be on the highway.”
He said some of the riders blocked traffic from moving forward, while others raced each other.
The group caused “a host of safety problems,” he said.
“It’s not acceptable and we will take steps to stop this in the future,” Procopio said.
Video released by the state Department of Transportation showed about two dozen bikers zooming through the tunnel, with a number of cars hemmed in behind them.
Rebecca Fiore can be reached at rebecca.fiore@globe.com.