The CA/Tastrophe’s Project

The Central Artery/Tunnel Project, also unofficially called the Big Dig is one of the most extensive, technically complicated, and environmentally challenging public works infrastructure and highway construction projects ever to be carried out in the history of the U.S. First conceived in the late 1970s, work on the Central Artery/Tunnel Project was so extensive that the project, from conception to execution, has lasted more than two decades. Within that time frame the project encompassed the building of 7.8 miles (12.5 km) of highway, 161 miles (259 km) of separate lanes, of which half were in tunnels, six were interchanges, and 200 were bridges.

Boston visitors and travelers should avoid using the $ 14.6 billion dollar Boston CA/T Tunnels until a full federal investigation occurs. Significant scrutiny of project decisions, including the opinions of project engineers unrelated to the project or any of its major players should certify the safety of the tunnel structures first. The Central Artery/Tunnel (CA/T) Project, now the property of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, needs to reassure the public. We expect answers to these questions about what $ 14.6 billion dollars of federal and state taxpayer money bought for the people of Massachusetts before our students, commuters, visitors to Boston and the millions of travelers who use the Interstate Highways each year continue to travel the tunnels.

1. Was a contamination clearance analysis for concrete corrosives and expansion properties established prior to using the stored 4,000 miles and over 11 million cubic yards of excavated construction materials destined to be recycled within the project’s concrete and other state projects?

2. Were the standards for recycling concrete aggregate systematically and uniformly applied to all materials recycled into this project?

3. Can the process of application of those standards be substantiated by contracts established with contractors that document review of the requirements for contamination? Was testing of concrete mix for strength and temperature performed by the Joint venture on materials supplied by contractors the only measure required?

We possess memos that outline the Massachusetts Highway Department and Department of Environmental Protection testing procedure of contaminated soil that was excavated during the Big Dig and stored at Suburu Pier and Massport. The agreement and memos stipulate which truck loads of material will be tested, the first of every 5 trucks. This process practically assured that questionable materials could easily pass through the first line of defensive inspection if that was desired by the Joint Venture. Bechtel and the state (the Joint Venture) were the people charged with recycling or disposing of all of the dirt and excavate.

Key Contaminants Affecting Humans and Wildlife

The Department of Environmental Protection storage criteria for Big Dig excavated materials is contained in documents we possess. If the excavated material was highly corrosive (pH1.5), reactive, ignitable (flashpoint).