Engineer 'unable' To Vouch For Big Dig Safety

[Lowbrow]

Engineer 'unable' to vouch for Big Dig safety

Tuesday, March 15, 2005 Posted: 7:56 AM EST (1256 GMT)

LINK

BOSTON, Massachusetts (AP) -- The independent engineering specialist who led an investigation into leaks at the $14.6 billion Big Dig project says he can no longer vouch for the safety of its tunnels.

"I am now unable to express an opinion as to the safety of the I-93 portion of the Central Artery," Jack K. Lemley wrote in the March 9 letter to the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, a copy of which was obtained by The Boston Globe.

The project -- formally called the Central Artery and Third Harbor Tunnel project -- buried Interstate 93 underneath downtown Boston and connected the Massachusetts Turnpike to Logan International Airport.

Lemley told lawmakers in November that there was no public safety risk to people driving through the tunnels.

In the latest letter, he said new information has surfaced that more than 40 large sections of tunnel wall contain construction defects and that fireproofing material has been damaged by leaks.

He also wrote that project officials have blocked him from obtaining records and data related to the new problems. Lemley added that his change in position also was driven by the apparent lack of any formal plan by Big Dig officials to address the leak problems.

Matthew Amorello, chairman of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, which oversees the $14.6 billion project, had yet to see the letter, a spokesman told the Globe in Tuesday's editions.

"We believe the tunnels are perfectly safe," spokesman Doug Hanchett said. "If we ever had a reasonable inkling otherwise, we'd close the tunnels. Public safety is always our number one concern."

[jm1fd]

I can't believe the absurd mountains of federal tax money has been blown on this just to make Boston look prettier for a few miles. Pisses me off.

[Trophy Property]

I can't believe the absurd mountains of federal tax money has been blown on this just to make Boston look prettier for a few miles.  Pisses me off.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is what happens when you get too aggressive. That project was a mess from day one and was such a collossal waste of money. Boston has a lot going for it, but the Big Dig will go down as one of the biggest blunders of all time.

[kzseattle]

I can't believe the absurd mountains of federal tax money has been blown on this just to make Boston look prettier for a few miles.

[westguy]

That's true. DeLay et al have majorly let the region down in pursuing our fair share of transportation dollars. Alaska is by far the worst offender because they have a very small population pursuing major engineering projects.

[tw2ntyse7en]

...

[ssullivan]

Despite its cost, the Big Dig is a MAJOR improvement to Boston's harbor area. And it has done a lot more than just make the city look better. It solved a major traffic bottleneck, as the old freeway, which really could not be expanded, was horribly designed and carrying much, much more traffic than it was ever designed to handle. And even though the new greenbelt parks that will be built where the old Central Artery once stood have not been finished yet, just having that ugly, rusting hulk of green freeway out of the city is a big improvement. I couldn't believe how much quieter and more pleasant that part of the city is now when I was up there two weeks ago.

That said, it did cost way too much money, and the cost will only go up if sections of it have to be modified to fix the leaks and other construction defects.

BTW - on a similar, but local note - anyone else notice that this past weekend the last remaining elevated section of the Southwest Freeway over Montrose came down? You can drive south on Montrose now from Westheimer and Richmond and have a totally unobstructed view of the Museum District, Mecom Fountain, Sam Houston Statue, and Hermann Park in the distance. I can't wait for that section of the freeway to be totally finished next year, but already it's a nice improvement to the neighborhood to have the old elevated structure completely gone.

[Lowbrow]

BTW - on a similar, but local note - anyone else notice that this past weekend the last remaining elevated section of the Southwest Freeway over Montrose came down? You can drive south on Montrose now from Westheimer and Richmond and have a totally unobstructed view of the Museum District, Mecom Fountain, Sam Houston Statue, and Hermann Park in the distance. I can't wait for that section of the freeway to be totally finished next year, but already it's a nice improvement to the neighborhood to have the old elevated structure completely gone.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Most definately Sulli. I cant wait to see how this area looks with the new bridge even if it is just copies of the others. I am very happy about the progress here.

[kjb434]

And who says TxDOT can't do good things.

The public got involved and cooperation created a great design.

The neighborhood also complained about the construction time length of three years. We are already half way through.

[jm1fd]

It solved a major traffic bottleneck, as the old freeway, which really could not be expanded, was horribly designed and carrying much, much more traffic than it was ever designed to handle.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why did they have to dig it all underground? Why couldn't they build a multi-deck above ground structure?

[Subdude]

The whole point was to get rid of the above ground freeway. As in any city, above-ground freeways cut off sections of the city and create dead zones. I just read that Baltimore is getting rid of a freeway through their downtown, as has Portland and San Francisco.

[kjb434]

Salt Lake City did the same thing before the Olympics came also.