Jul. 14, 2006 - 22:07 MDT

20-20 HINDSIGHT

Makes me wonder when this sort of thing will surface here. All the extensive highway alterations over the years, and the Eisenhower Tunnel to boot. An article by Glen Johnson of the Associated Press in this morning's Rocky Mountain News is what got me started. Quoted in full here:

BIG DIG PROBLEMS MUSHROOM

Number of possible defective ceiling bolts in tunnel put at 240

BOSTON -- "Inspectors on Thursday quadrupled to 240 the number of possible ceiling bolt problems in a Big Dig tunnel where a woman was crushed by falling concrete."

"The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority said additional bolts in the problem areas 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 roadway, tunnel and bridge in Boston's entire highway system."

"MIchael Lewis, director of the Big Dig, said inspectors found 68 suspect bolts over the westbound lanes of a connector tunnel providing the main route to Logan Airport. Forty-five more problem bolts wee discovered in a lane carrying carpool traffic, as well as 69 in ramps connecting two interstate highways."

"Legislative leaders expresed support for Gov. Mitt Romney's plan to give the governor authority over when to reopen the tunnel where the collapse occurred, a main route to Boston's Logan Airport that has been closed for three days."

"The governor has already called for the resignation of the head of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, which currently oversees inspection of the Big Dig."

"When it comes to an issue of inspecting the tunnel system, to have the person who's been responsible for it for the last several years say, "I'm going to inspect it' and tell us, 'its now safe,' thats not enough," the governor said. "The public wants to see an independent inspection effort."

"He added, "There should no longer be any doubt that the Turnpike Authority has failed to do its job effectively."

"On Wednesday, Attorney General Tom Reilly said the contractor and state officials were warned of problems with the tunnel ceiling as far back as 1999, when five bolts came out during tests. But it remained unclear Thursday what, if anything, was done to resolve those problems."

"The panels provided a dropped ceiling to assist in ventialtion, but experts questioned whether they needed to be so heavy. As the tunnel continues to undergo inspection, authorities are considering whether it would be feasible to remove the ceiling panels and leave the large fans above them exposed indefinitely."

"Also Thursday, the Massachusetts congressional delegation signed a letter asking the National Transportation Safety Board to lead the investigation, saying it is one of the few agencies without any apparent involvement in the project that would pose a conflict of interest."

+++++++++++++++

Dunno, seems to me that 3-ton ceiling panels are a heck of a lot overweight to handle proper ventilation of the tunnel. There couldn't be such a pressure differential requiring something that heavy, to my way of looking at things. Of course somewhere along the line engineers bought it, and perhaps if the bolts were of the proper strength, installed correctly into a surface that would hold them securely it all would have worked.

But somewhere along the line there was a big goof, whether corruption had a place in the mess, future fingerpointing might bring the evidence to light.

But when a possible problem was presented in 1999 when five bolts came out and there is not evidence to what if anything was done to resolve the situation, perhaps that is an indication of a cover up of some one or some department failing to check it out.

With our modern highway system as it exists here, flyovers by the multitudes and such things, I wonder, should we have any faith in our Departments of Safety to control things like that ?

After all the investigatory procedures bring forth all available facts possible, then the finger pointing will begin, blame assigned and possibly lawsuits settled and people fired - - - but that will not restore that lost life.

Then the propaganda mill will start up full blast with perfect 20-20 HINDSIGHT . . . . . . . . . .

Blog