Editing Big Dig (section)

== Problems ==
{{anchor|Problems}}

=== Leaks ===
As far back as 2001, Turnpike Authority officials and contractors knew of thousands of leaks in ceiling and wall fissures, extensive water damage to steel supports and fireproofing systems, and overloaded drainage systems.<ref>[http://www.thebostonchannel.com/bigdig/3924866/detail.html Report: Even More Big Dig Leaks Found – Big Dig News Story – WCVB Boston<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060523164349/http://www.thebostonchannel.com/bigdig/3924866/detail.html |date=May 23, 2006 }}</ref> Many of the leaks were a result of [[Modern Continental]] and other subcontractors failing to remove gravel and other debris before pouring concrete. This information was not made public until engineers at MIT (volunteer students and professors) performed several experiments and found serious problems with the tunnel.<ref name="evenmorebigleaks">{{Cite news|title=Report: Even More Big Dig Leaks Found |url=http://www.thebostonchannel.com/bigdig/3924866/detail.html |publisher=WCVB-TV |date=November 17, 2004 |access-date=July 18, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060523164349/http://www.thebostonchannel.com/bigdig/3924866/detail.html |archive-date=May 23, 2006 }}</ref>

On September 15, 2004, a major leak in the [[Interstate 93]] north tunnel forced the closure of the tunnel while repairs were conducted. This also forced the Turnpike Authority to release information regarding its non-disclosure of prior leaks. A follow-up reported on "extensive" leaks that were more severe than state authorities had previously acknowledged. The report went on to state that the tunnel system had more than 400 leaks. A ''[[Boston Globe]]'' report countered that by stating there were nearly 700 leaks in a single {{convert|1000|ft|m|adj=on}} section of tunnel beneath [[South Station]]. Turnpike officials also stated that the number of leaks being investigated was down from 1,000 to 500.<ref name="evenmorebigleaks" />

The problem of leaks is further aggravated by the fact that many of them involve corrosive [[Seawater|salt water]]. This is caused by the proximity of [[Boston Harbor]] and the [[Atlantic Ocean]], causing a mix of salt and fresh water leaks in the tunnel. The situation is made worse by [[road salt]] spread in the tunnel to melt ice during freezing weather, or brought in by vehicles passing through.<ref name="54m-fix" /> Salt water and [[salt spray]] are well-known issues that must be dealt with in any [[marine environment]]. It has been reported that "hundreds of thousands of gallons of salt water are pumped out monthly" in the Big Dig, and a map has been prepared showing "hot spots" where water leakage is especially serious.<ref name="CorrosionGraphic" /> Salt-accelerated corrosion has caused ceiling light fixtures to fail (see below), but can also cause rapid deterioration of embedded [[rebar]] and other [[structural steel]] reinforcements holding the tunnel walls and ceiling in place.<ref name="54m-fix" />

=== Substandard materials ===
[[Massachusetts State Police]] searched the offices of [[Aggregate Industries]], the largest concrete supplier for the underground portions of the project, in June 2005. They seized evidence that Aggregate delivered concrete that did not meet contract specifications. In March 2006 [[Massachusetts Attorney General]] [[Thomas Reilly (Massachusetts politician)|Tom Reilly]] announced plans to sue project contractors and others because of poor work on the project. Over 200 complaints were filed by the state of Massachusetts as a result of leaks, cost overruns, quality concerns, and safety violations. In total, the state has sought approximately $100 million from the contractors ($1 for every $141 spent).<ref name="Reuters-StateWeighs">{{Cite news|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/03/19/news/notes.php |title=State weighs suing 'Big Dig' contractors |work=International Herald Tribune |date=March 20, 2006 |access-date=July 17, 2006| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060718094219/http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/03/19/news/notes.php| archive-date= July 18, 2006 | url-status= live}}</ref>

In May 2006, six employees of the company were arrested and charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States. The employees were accused of reusing old concrete and double-billing loads.<ref>{{cite news |title= Arrests For Big Dig Concrete Fraud |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/arrests-for-big-dig-concrete-fraud/ |work=www.cbsnews.com|date = May 4, 2006|agency = Associated Press}}</ref> In July 2007, Aggregate Industries settled the case with an agreement to pay $50 million. $42 million of the settlement went to civil cases and $8 million was paid in criminal fines. The company will provide $75 million in insurance for maintenance as well as pay $500,000 toward routine checks on areas suspected to contain substandard concrete.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2007/07/30/82122.htm |title= Concrete Supplier to Pay $50 Million to Settle Big Dig Case |publisher=Insurancejournal.com |date=July 30, 2007 |access-date=April 8, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408212726/http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2007/07/30/82122.htm |archive-date=April 8, 2014 }}</ref>

In July 2009, two of the accused, Gerard McNally and Keith Thomas, both managers, pled guilty to charges of conspiracy, mail fraud, and filing false reports.<ref>{{cite news |last1=LAVOIE |first1=DENISE |title=2 to plead guilty in Big Dig concrete case |url=https://www.courant.com/sdut-2-to-plead-guilty-in-big-dig-concrete-case-2009jul08-story.html |work=courant.com |access-date=October 22, 2020 |archive-date=May 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518024414/https://www.courant.com/sdut-2-to-plead-guilty-in-big-dig-concrete-case-2009jul08-story.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The following month, the remaining four, Robert Prosperi, Mark Blais, Gregory Stevenson, and John Farrar, were found guilty on conspiracy and fraud charges.<ref>{{cite news |title=4 Ex-Contractors Found Guilty In Big Dig Fraud |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2009/08/04/big-dig-fraud |work=www.wbur.org |language=en|date = August 4, 2009|agency = Associated Press}}</ref> The four were sentenced to probation and home confinement and Blais and Farrar were additionally sentenced to community service.<ref>{{cite news |title=4 get probation for Boston Big Dig concrete fraud |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-4-get-probation-for-boston-big-dig-concrete-fraud-2010may27-story.html |work=San Diego Union-Tribune |date=27 May 2010}}</ref>

=== Fatal ceiling collapse ===
{{Main|Big Dig ceiling collapse}}

[[File:Ted Williams Tunnel Boston (0208).jpg|thumb|300px|Boston traffic crawls over a closed [[Ted Williams Tunnel]] entrance in Boston during [[rush hour]] on July 11, 2006, the day after the collapse.]]
A fatal accident raised safety questions and closed part of the project for most of the summer of 2006. On July 10, 2006, concrete ceiling panels and debris weighing {{convert|26|ST|t|abbr=off}} and measuring {{convert|20|by|40|ft|m|abbr=on}} fell on a car traveling on the two-lane ramp connecting northbound I-93 to eastbound [[Massachusetts Turnpike|I-90]] in [[South Boston]], killing Milena Del Valle, who was a passenger, and injuring her husband, Angel Del Valle, who was driving.<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite news| title=Triumph, Tragedy Mark Boston's Big Dig Project| url=http://www.cegltd.com/story.asp?story=8751&headline=Triumph,%20Tragedy%20Mark%20Boston%E2%80%99s%20Big%20Dig%20Project| publisher=Construction Equipment Guide| date=June 6, 2007| access-date=December 10, 2007| archive-date=October 6, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006135142/http://cegltd.com/story.asp?story=8751&headline=Triumph,%20Tragedy%20Mark%20Boston%E2%80%99s%20Big%20Dig%20Project| url-status=dead}}</ref>

Immediately following the fatal ceiling collapse, Governor [[Mitt Romney]] ordered a "stem-to-stern" safety audit conducted by the engineering firm of [[Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.]] to look for additional areas of risk. Said Romney: "We simply cannot live in a setting where a project of this scale has the potential of threatening human life, as has already been seen".<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/08/17/governor_names_ill_firm_to_lead_big_dig_audit/ | title=Governor names Ill. firm to lead Big Dig audit | work=[[The Boston Globe]] | last=Mishra | first=Raja | date=August 17, 2006 | access-date=April 1, 2009 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516005249/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/08/17/governor_names_ill_firm_to_lead_big_dig_audit/ | archive-date=May 16, 2008 }}</ref>

The collapse and closure of the tunnel greatly snarled traffic in the city. The resulting traffic jams are cited as contributing to the death of another person, a heart attack victim who died en route to Boston Medical Center when his ambulance was caught in one such traffic jam two weeks after the collapse.<ref name="BostonHerald">{{cite news|url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/591773/tunnel_horror__the_emergency/index.html |title=Man dies in tunnel backup |newspaper=Boston Herald |date=July 27, 2006 |access-date=August 8, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114065351/http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/591773/tunnel_horror__the_emergency/index.html |archive-date=January 14, 2009 }}</ref> On September 1, 2006, one eastbound lane of the connector tunnel was re-opened to traffic.<ref name="MassTurnpike=TurnpikeNews">{{Cite news| url=http://www.massturnpike.com/user-cgi/news.cgi?dbkey=241&type=Press%20Release&src=news | title=Turnpike News | publisher=Massachusetts Turnpike Authority | date=September 1, 2006 | access-date=December 3, 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071016234818/http://massturnpike.com/user-cgi/news.cgi?dbkey=241&type=Press+Release&src=news|archive-date=October 16, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | first=Elizabeth | last=Taurasi | title=Boston's Big Dig – One of Engineering's Biggest Mistakes? | url=http://www.designnews.com/article/CA6357443.html | publisher=Design News | date=July 28, 2006 | access-date=August 11, 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060813162611/http://www.designnews.com/article/CA6357443.html | archive-date=August 13, 2006 | url-status=dead }} See WikiNews article [[n:Portion of ceiling collapses in Boston tunnel|here]].</ref>

Following extensive inspections and repairs, Interstate 90 east- and westbound lanes reopened in early January 2007.<ref name="SeattlePi">{{Cite news| work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer | url=http://www.seattlepi.com/national/1110AP_Big_Dig.html | title=Mass. tunnel ceiling inspections ordered| publisher=SeattlePi.com | date=January 17, 2007 | access-date=January 7, 2006 }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The final piece of the road network, a high occupancy vehicle lane connecting Interstate 93 north to the [[Ted Williams Tunnel]], reopened on June 1, 2007.

On July 10, 2007, after a lengthy investigation, the [[National Transportation Safety Board]] found that [[epoxy]] glue used to hold the roof in place during construction was not appropriate for long-term bonding.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/Pressrel/2007/070710b.htm |title=Safety Board Determines Cause of Boston's Big Dig Tunnel Ceiling Collapse Last Year |publisher=ntsb.gov |date=October 5, 2007 |access-date=July 12, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016221352/http://ntsb.gov/Pressrel/2007/070710b.htm |archive-date=October 16, 2007 }}</ref> This was determined to be the cause of the roof collapse. The Power-Fast Epoxy Adhesive used in the installation was designed for short-term loading, such as wind or earthquake loads, not long-term loading, such as the weight of a panel.<ref>{{Cite news |first= Rodrique |last= Ngowi |url= https://www.cbsnews.com/news/big-dig-victims-family-settles-for-6m/ |title= Big Dig Victim's Family Settles For $6M |agency= Associated Press |work= CBS News |date= December 25, 2007 |access-date= December 25, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| first=Casey | last=Ross | url= https://www.bostonherald.com/2007/08/08/epoxy-company-hit-with-big-dig-indictment | title=Epoxy company hit with Big Dig indictment | work= Boston Herald |date=August 8, 2007 | access-date= December 25, 2007}}</ref><ref name=Power-Fast>{{Cite news| url= http://www.powers.com/product_08402.html| title= Power-Fast+ Epoxy Adhesive System| publisher= powers.com| access-date= July 12, 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070618031918/http://www.powers.com/product_08402.html| archive-date= June 18, 2007| url-status= dead}}</ref>

[[W.W. Grainger|Powers Fasteners]], the makers of the adhesive, revised their product specifications on May 15, 2007, to increase the [[safety factor]] from 4 to 10 for all of their epoxy products intended for use in overhead applications. The safety factor on Power-Fast Epoxy was increased from 4 to 16.<ref name="Power-Fast" /> On December 24, 2007, the Del Valle family announced they had reached a settlement with Powers Fasteners that would pay the family $6 million.<ref name="globe settlement">{{Cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/traffic/bigdig/articles/2007/12/24/settlement_reached_in_big_dig_death/?p1=Well_MostPop_Emailed1|title=Settlement reached in Big Dig death|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=December 24, 2007|access-date=December 25, 2007|first=Megan|last=Woolhouse|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523100452/http://www.boston.com/news/traffic/bigdig/articles/2007/12/24/settlement_reached_in_big_dig_death/?p1=Well_MostPop_Emailed1|archive-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref> In December 2008, Powers Fasteners agreed to pay $16 million to the state to settle manslaughter charges.<ref>{{Cite news
 | first = Sean
 | last = Murphy
 | title = Manslaughter charges dismissed in Big Dig collapse
 | url = https://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/12/manslaughter_ch_1.html
 | access-date = December 17, 2008
| work=The Boston Globe
| date=December 17, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081218164307/http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/12/manslaughter_ch_1.html| archive-date= December 18, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>

=== "Ginsu guardrails" ===
Public safety workers have called the walkway safety handrails in the Big Dig tunnels "[[ginsu]] guardrails", because the squared-off edges of the support posts have caused mutilations and deaths of passengers ejected from crashed vehicles. After an eighth reported death involving the safety handrails, [[MassDOT]] officials announced plans to cover or remove the allegedly dangerous fixtures, but only near curves or exit ramps.<ref name=Carroll-Rails>{{cite web|last=Carroll |first=Matt |title=State plans to remove many rails in tunnels |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/04/15/state_plans_to_remove_or_cover_big_dig_tunnel_railings_after_deaths/ |work=boston.com |publisher=The Boston Globe |access-date=April 9, 2012 |date=April 15, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210024625/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/04/15/state_plans_to_remove_or_cover_big_dig_tunnel_railings_after_deaths/ |archive-date=February 10, 2012 }}</ref> This partial removal of hazards has been criticized by a safety specialist, who suggests that the handrails are just as dangerous in straight sections of the tunnel.<ref name="Carroll-Rails" />

=== Lighting fixtures ===
In March 2011, it became known that senior MassDOT officials had failed to disclose an issue with the lighting fixtures in the O'Neill tunnel. In early February 2011, a maintenance crew found a fixture lying in the middle travel lane in the northbound tunnel.<ref name="Moskowitz-lights">{{cite news|first=Eric |last=Moskowitz |title=State says some light fixtures in Big Dig tunnels are flawed |url=http://articles.boston.com/2011-03-16/news/29350222_1_tunnels-fixtures-fluorescent-lights |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=March 16, 2011 |access-date=July 11, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426004212/http://articles.boston.com/2011-03-16/news/29350222_1_tunnels-fixtures-fluorescent-lights |archive-date=April 26, 2011 }}</ref> Assuming it to be simple [[road debris]], the maintenance team picked it up and brought it back to its home facility. The next day, a supervisor passing through the yard realized that the {{convert|120|lb|kg|abbr=on}} fixture was not road debris but was in fact one of the fixtures used to light the tunnel itself. Further investigation revealed that the fixture's mounting apparatus had failed, due to [[galvanic corrosion]] of incompatible metals, caused by having [[aluminum]] in direct contact with [[stainless steel]], in the presence of salt water.<ref name=CorrosionGraphic>{{cite web |title=The Mysterious Corroding Big Dig Light Fixtures |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/20110710_tunnels_light_fixtures/ |work=boston.com |publisher=The Boston Globe |access-date=April 9, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407223210/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/20110710_tunnels_light_fixtures/ |archive-date=April 7, 2012 }}</ref><ref name=ENR-Salt>{{cite journal|last=Knapschaefer|first=Johanna|title=MassDOT Study Blames Salt For Big Dig's Fallen Light Fixture|journal=Engineering News-Record|date=April 27, 2011|url=http://enr.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221233320/http://www.enr.com/|archive-date=December 21, 2015}}</ref> The [[electrochemical]] [[potential difference]] between stainless steel and aluminum is in the range of 0.5 to 1.0V, depending on the exact alloys involved, and can cause considerable corrosion within months under unfavorable conditions.

After the discovery of the reason why the fixture had failed, a comprehensive inspection of the other fixtures in the tunnel revealed that numerous other fixtures were also in the same state of deterioration.<ref name=Mullan-Light>{{cite web|last=Mullan|first=Jeff|title=Tunnel Safety Ceiling Light Fixture Update|url=http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/portals/8/docs/TunnelSafety/TnnlSafetyBoardRpt040611.pdf|work=Report to the MassDOT Board of Directors|publisher=MassDOT|date=April 6, 2011|access-date=April 9, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130701232403/http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/portals/8/docs/TunnelSafety/TnnlSafetyBoardRpt040611.pdf|archive-date=July 1, 2013}}</ref> Some of the worst fixtures were temporarily shored up with plastic ties.<ref name="54m-fix" /> Moving forward with temporary repairs, members of the MassDOT administration team decided not to let the news of the systemic failure and repair of the fixtures be released to the public or to Governor [[Deval Patrick]]'s administration.<ref name="Murphy-lights">{{cite news |first1=Sean P. |last1=Murphy |first2=Scott |last2=Allen |title=Worries about lights were kept in the dark |url=http://articles.boston.com/2011-07-10/news/29758587_1_light-fixture-tunnels-state-engineers |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=July 12, 2011 |access-date=July 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720145746/http://articles.boston.com/2011-07-10/news/29758587_1_light-fixture-tunnels-state-engineers |archive-date=July 20, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{As of|2012|April}}, it appeared that all of the 25,000 light fixtures would have to be replaced, at an estimated cost of $54 million.<ref name=54m-fix>{{cite news|last=Murphy|first=Sean P.|date=April 5, 2012|title=Big Dig needs $54m light fix|url=http://articles.boston.com/2012-04-05/news/31295327_1_new-fixtures-entire-fixture-light-replacement-project|work=boston.com|publisher=The Boston Globe|access-date=April 9, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406184648/http://articles.boston.com/2012-04-05/news/31295327_1_new-fixtures-entire-fixture-light-replacement-project|archive-date=April 6, 2012}}</ref> The replacement work was mostly done at night, and required lane closures or occasional closing of the entire tunnel for safety, and was estimated to take up to two years to complete.<ref name="54m-fix" />