Construction on a problematic Storrow Drive Tunnel that has led to recurring complaints from commuters may soon find a new detour alongside the Boston University campus as Massachusetts officials consider paving the scenic Esplanade Park to alleviate traffic during construction.

The state will pursue the construction of a $55 million waterproof system inside the existing tunnel — a project known as “Option A” — after participating in a two-year design project with a local construction firm, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Acting Commissioner Richard K. Sullivan Jr. said.

“Our purpose is to get all of the information out to the public so that they may understand the significant impacts those options will have,” Sullivan said at a hearing Friday. “There will be impacts to residents, local businesses, and of course, the Esplanade. No matter which alternative we choose, there will be significant impacts on the public.”

He said the proposed construction on the tunnel — which has undergone temporary repairs, including the installation of a new concrete beam to fix damage it suffered from a recent accident involving an oversized truck — is the least intrusive solution possible.

Many residents have opposed the construction, pointing to the inevitability of noise disruption and encroachment upon the Esplanade that will come with it.

“Over the past two months we have participated in planning meetings with the commissioner,” said Jacquelin Yessian, chairwoman of the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay. “We are confident there are ways to avoid nighttime construction and destroying the park, and I hope that message got through.”

According to the DCR, renovation on the tunnel would span all four lanes, causing drastic re-routing for the approximate 105,000 motorists who use the tunnel each day.

Additionally, the construction zone would be closed to the public for safety purposes and to accommodate the elevated roadway that would run through the Esplanade, taking up significant park space for the duration of the project.

Up to 100 trees would be removed, while pedestrians and bikers would be granted limited access to marked paths on the Esplanade.

“Our primary goal is to find a better solution than to put a roadway in the park,” said Patrice Todisco, executive director of The Esplanade Association. “We want the best park no matter what.

“We’re going to work closely with neighborhood allies and develop alternatives to keep this road out of the park,” she added.