BOSTON (WHDH) – The Callahan Tunnel was shut down shortly Friday afternoon due to a single-car fire.

The car fire erupted at about 3:30 Friday afternoon. State police closed to Boston side of the tunnel until smoke from the fire cleared, according to state police.

Motorists told 7News they had nowhere to go in the two-lane tunnel. Some motorists even began backing out of the tunnel.

“There was like a small amount of smoke coming out of the end when we were coming in. [We haven’t been able to do anything] just waiting. It looks like they’re letting people through now,” one woman said.

“Probably like 45 minutes, 50 minutes and this is as far as we got. We have to find another way to the airport. I got to fly out,” one man said.

Firefighters entered the tunnel from the East Boston side and were able to knock the flames down.

The fire caused major traffic backups on a busy Friday afternoon and the start of the Labor Day weekend.

The traffic started to flow freely around 5 p.m..