Posted on 07/14/2006 8:15:23 AM PDT by ncountylee
BOSTON — While much of this city worried Thursday about driving through the new underground highway system known as the Big Dig, the fallout from Monday's fatal ceiling collapse in a connector tunnel escalated.
Gov. Mitt Romney announced he was filing emergency legislation to take control of the investigation into the accident, in which 12 tons of concrete crushed a woman to death as she rode to Logan International Airport with her husband. The Legislature quickly passed the Republican governor's plan, and Romney said he would sign the measure today.
Atty. Gen. Tom Reilly pressed forward with a criminal case that could lead to manslaughter charges — and already has brought subpoenas to the Big Dig's major contractors.
The state's two top legislative leaders joined a chorus seeking the ouster of the head of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, the agency that oversees the $14.6-billion project — the largest urban infrastructure effort in American history. Chairman Matthew Amorello stated again that he intended to remain on the job.
Also Thursday, the state's congressional delegation asked the National Transportation Safety Board to manage the inquiry, calling for "an immediate independent review."
Amorello reiterated that at least 60 other tunnel defects had been identified since the accident.
And while Boston drivers wondered how the 40-foot ceiling panels above the eastbound lanes of the connector could have come loose and crashed to the ground, the state's secretary of transportation said the westbound side's ceiling was in even worse shape. The tunnel connector — a crucial route to the airport — remained closed indefinitely.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Given the cost of this project the bolts should have been gold plated. If an honest investigation is made I would expect to see evidence of shoddy and substandard work with millions in kickbacks to contractors, unions, crooked politicians and possibly organized crime. However, that's a big IF.
How about "DEATH"?
Possibly the biggest boondoggle of all time. What a surprise, it's in Massachussets.
Aren't you being a little redundant here?
Reilly sounds more and more like Niphong (sp?). (Actually, I wonder what kind of correspondence is -- or was -- in the AG's files on the Big Dig.)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.