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July 17, 2006
The Big Dig
Recently, the Big Dig fiasco made headlines because 30 tons of ceiling dropped onto a housewife in the tunnel. Not many were surprised by this, and people that live there will tell you they cross their fingers when they go through the tunnels. For good reason, as it turns out.
When I was in Boston in 1993, the lead lead engineer documented hundreds of pages of serious issues, including the fact that the tunnel under the bay isn't buried. That is, the top of the tunnel that goes underwater is exposed, hence, vulnerable to a ship hitting it, ripping open the tunnel, and drowning everyone inside. Also, two of the tunnels pass within thirteen inches of each other in opposing turns, so there is some concern that a vehicle might break through between the tunnels. The lead engineering firm was so concerned over these inherent design flaws that they resigned, becoming the third engineering firm to resign from the Big Dig. That was 13 years ago.
This site has a fairly compreshensive look at the Big Dig.
Posted by Peenie Wallie on July 17, 2006 at 7:32 PM
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