Posted on 07/12/2006 3:28:17 PM PDT by Oshkalaboomboom
The head of the agency overseeing Boston's Big Dig highway project ordered a review of the entire metro highway system Wednesday after investigators looking into the fatal collapse of concrete ceiling slabs found 60 more questionable areas inside the same tunnel.
Initial inspections revealed dozens of signs of bolts loosening and other potential failures in the eastbound connector tunnel, part of the main route to Boston's Logan Airport, Turnpike Authority officials and the Big Dig project manager said.
There were also trouble spots in the tunnel's westbound lanes, they said.
''We're evaluating each of these individual sites,'' Massachusetts Turnpike Authority Chairman Matthew Amorello said. He added, however, ''The tunnel system is safe.''
There had been plans to reopen the connector tunnel Wednesday, but Amorello said it would remain closed indefinitely to ensure motorists' safety.
Twelve tons of concrete ceiling panels in the tunnel crashed down late Monday night, crushing a car and killing a 38-year-old woman inside. Her husband barely escaped by crawling through a window.
U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan, whose office has been conducting a yearlong investigation into problems with the massive highway project, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that his investigators are turning their attention to whether contractors involved in that part of the system delivered the goods and services they promised.
''We obviously want to identify any public safety risks ... but also to ensure that what the government paid for -- through tax dollars -- is in fact what was delivered,'' Sullivan said.
The woman's death could also lead to charges of negligent homicide, said Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly, who is treating the section of eastbound Interstate 90, near the entrance of a connector tunnel to Logan Airport, as a crime scene.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
howie carr is going nuts over this. its really hillarious until you remember that someone actually had to die before something was done.
Wasn't a relative of JFnK involved in the construction of the Big Dig?
$13 billion down the drain. They could have given that money to me.
Without a doubt, this will somehow be the fault of Republicans---and not the corrupt Democrats who have been in charge of that state for so long.
It took 15 years(?) and $14.6 billion to build and it broke (fatally) in less than a year or two. Un-freakin-believable.
And every slingle liberal taxhog in MA
What SHOULD be done, is a full-fledged investigation of "THE SWIMMER'S PART" in buying votes with tax money, funneling billions into his Union-Cronies' pockets, with short-cuts in the materials and workmanship.
Don't hold your breath, though, as this boondoggle of billions of tax dollars will never see the light of day...watch for a single fall guy (low level coverup)
And after all is said and done some sub-contractor is going to be scapegoated. No one really believes that the corrupt govt officals are going to suffer, do they?
I would'nt dig around too much. The hole thing will probably cave in.
Last week there was an article in the SF Chronicle about a "minority business" contractor who had used substandard concrete on projects throughout the city, including the new Bay Bridge. Even though the bridge I travel almost daily will probably send me into the Bay some day, I will be happy to die knowing that I helped a minority get a leg up in life.
They only spent $14 billion on it a few years ago. Did they expect it to last forever?
Three things that ought to be looked into, concerning the various shortcuts and obvious payoffs for sleazy work:
1. Ted Kennedy
2. Ted Kennedy
3. Ted Kennedy
This seemes to be the constant that runs all through this whole boondoggle.
Look on the bright side. Al queda probably just scratched it from their target list.
NOTHING has been done yet, don't forget, reilly is just as corrupt as the rest of them and has already ruled out fat matt,, BEFORE any investigation has taken place, so, once again, fat matt gets away with criminal behavior, oh and btw,, the tunnels are SAFE, lol, keep in mind there are 60, yes SIXTY more panels that have been compromised....yes indeedy matt, the tunnels sure are indeed safe.
Sound's like FBI might get involved. They need subpoena power. Bring on the FEDS.
"The woman's death could also lead to charges of negligent homicide, said Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly"
Just remember Reilly (a Dem) is currently running for Governor with over $50,000 in contributions from Big Dig (or perhaps Grand Slam is more fitting now) contractors.
Full investigation...Now we'll get to the bottom of this...just like the 911 Commission, The Warren Report, The flight 800 investigation...the truth will out...or not.
Was anyone else having trouble with Howie's audio stream droppiing out today?
I'm sure his site was getting slammed with traffic.
Good ole reilly, what a freakin' buffoon, who's more corrupt, him, fat matt, corrupt midget, all on level playing field imo, don't forget reilly's coverup of the two girls killed in car crash, don't forget the running mate fiasco, Deval is beginning to look good, LOL, can't believe Scotto on RKO picked this week to be on vacation, he must be pissed!
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