BOSTON -- Working quickly to restore the public's faith in the safety of the Big Dig, state lawmakers on Thursday voted to transfer oversight of the 3-1/2-mile tunnel project to Gov. Mitt Romney's highway agency.
The Executive Office of Transportation and Construction will assume control of inspections of the $14.6 billion project from the embattled Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, in the wake of Monday's accident where a falling section of tunnel killed a Boston woman.
"There can no longer be any doubt that the turnpike authority has failed to do its job effectively," Romney said at a press conference with Transportation Secretary John Cogliano. "It comes down to the safety of our tunnel system and ultimately an issue of public confidence. The current leadership of the turnpike authority has lost the public's confidence, plain and simple."
The legislation, enacted swiftly by the House and Senate last night, gives the governor unprecedented control over the $14.6 billion Big Dig, which has been under the management of the Turnpike Authority since 1995 under legislation initiated by former Gov. William Weld. http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com...
Inspectors quadrupled to 242 yesterday the number of possible ceiling bolt problems in a Big Dig tunnel where a woman was crushed by falling concrete, a still-closed section at the center of Gov. Mitt Romney's push to oversee the safety of the troubled project. The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority said inspectors found additional bolt assemblies that were separating from 3-ton concrete roof panels, raising the number of defects over previous inspections that found 60 defects. The earlier defects were enough for officials to order a sweeping review of every road, tunnel and bridge in Boston's highway system. Michael Lewis, director of the Big Dig, said inspectors found 68 suspect bolt assemblies over the westbound lanes of a connector tunnel providing the main route to Logan Airport. Forty-five more were discovered in a lane carrying carpool traffic, as well as 69 in ramps connecting two interstate highways.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/...
Romney just announced 362 problems found so far! I must say it is about time this is getting done right! We have known for years of the corruption, shoddy work, and shoddy materials. Coming from this local resident i tell you they will never get this home boy confident enough to risk my life in there.
Angel Del Valle, the husband of the woman killed in Monday's ceiling collapse in an Interstate 90 connector tunnel, talked Thursday about the horror of the accident and his questions about why it happened in the first place.
"You don't know when accidents are going to happen, but sometimes there are things that can be avoided. Maybe if, as they say, they had done a better job of inspecting. I only thank God that although I have lost my wife, I thank God that at least it didn't happen earlier in the day when it would have been a bigger tragedy. I lost my wife, but maybe that will now serve a bigger purpose, that when they finish a job like this that they will do it right, right from the start," Del Valle said.
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/...
I commend this mans integrity and rarely do I see a solid reason to sue. That said! This was no accident! Corners were cut, lives were risked, and a innocent woman was killed and a family destroyed.This is a case that should be prosecuted! What do you think?
James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
www.anaveragepatriot.com
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