Central Artery/Tunnel Project
Photo Courtesy of MTA.
A Better City has been a supporter of the Central/Artery Tunnel (CA/T) Project – commonly known as the Big Dig - since its inception as the Artery Business Committee in 1989. Founding members of the ABC recognized the many benefits offered by this project and recognized that business could play a key leadership role not only in ensuring that Boston remained viable and open for business during construction, but also in helping to envision the full potential of the project and resulting open spaces.
The CA/T project replaced Boston’s elevated Central Artery (I-93) with northbound and southbound underground tunnels, and completed a third tunnel (I-90) under Boston Harbor to East Boston. The project also provided an array of amenities including park space and other transportation improvements – and removed the elevated highway structure reconnecting Downtown Boston with the harbor and the North End. The Project includes 161 lane miles in a 7.5 mile right of way, with about half of that distance in tunnels.
The project has also been a feat of engineering innovation, as it employed a variety of creative construction techniques, including slurry wall construction, pipe and tunnel jacking, immersed tube tunnel construction, soil mixing technology, and soil freezing.
Our role
Map Courtesy of MTA.
Although the CA/T Project contracts came to an official close in December 2007, A Better City continues to work with the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority (MTA) and the City of Boston to ensure the completion of any remaining construction elements and commitments of the project. We are also working with the MTA to put in place operations and management protocols that ensure its long and effective service.
What's New
EOT Deputy Secretary Robert Rooney recently shared with the ABC Board that the field inspections for Phase 2 of the Stem to Stern review are complete, and EOT is drafting preliminary reports and expects to have the review wrapped up by June 2008. A Phase 1 report concluded that the Artery Project was robust and well-constructed, and ABC will continue to work with the EOT to see the Stem to Stern review through to completion and ensure that any issues identified in Phase 2 inspections are addressed.
First Assistant Attorney General David Friedman also recently filled us in on the details of the State's settlement with Bechtel Parsons regarding the Central Artery Tunnel ceiling collapse. A $458M settlement was reached, almost all of which has already been received by the Commonwealth. The majority of these funds ($415M) have gone into a trust fund for non-routine maintenance and operations of the Central Artery / Tunnel. The remaining funds go toward State transportation, and a small portion to the City of Boston and the MBTA as reimbursement for expenses incurred as a result of the ceiling collapse. While Bechtel Parsons was released
of any civil or criminal liability with regard to the ceiling collapse, the Attorney General's Office asserts that they are not released from liability for anything that was not under investigation, and in fact a "catastrophic event" clause in the settlement ("catastrophic event" defined as causing $50M or more in damages) allows the State to sue BP for up to $100M for each event. BP has also agreed to a full project safety review that will inform the State of any possible outstanding safety issues.
Additional resources
Massachusetts Turnpike Authority 'Big Dig' website.
Economic Impacts of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and the Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel Project (February 2006)
Prepared for the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority