Romney: Tests show more than 1,000 Big Dig bolts unreliable

7/17/2006

BOSTON Gov. Mitt Romney said today that tests show more than 1,100 bolt assemblies that used epoxy and more than 300 other areas in a Big Dig connector tunnel where the ceiling collapsed are unreliable.

Romney, speaking at a Statehouse news conference where he drew charts and diagrams of the problems, said those areas will now have to be reinforced.

Last week, days after 12 tons of ceiling panels came loose and fell on a car, crushing the passenger, the governor announced that inspections had shown there were at least 242 points where bolts were separating from the tunnel roof.

Two Big Dig tunnels have since been closed and Romney has not yet cleared the way for them to be reopened.

The $14.6 billion Big Dig the most expensive highway project in U.S. history buried a highway network that used to slice through the city, replacing it with a series of tunnels.

The project also has also been plagued by leaks, falling debris, cost overruns, delays and problems linked to faulty construction.

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