Is Boston's Big Dig Becoming One of Engineering's Biggest Mistakes?

Forums and blogs are appearing on the Internet where many engineers are anonymously speculating about the range of problems to come for the Big Dig/Central Artery Tunnel Project.

1 minute read

August 1, 2006, 7:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"While doubts about the infrastructure’s safety are only coming to light now â€" a December 1998 Inspector General’s Report reviewing the project’s use of anchor bolts documents numerous problems with the bolts and glue used to secure the ceiling in the Ted Williams Tunnel which opened to traffic in 1995. The I-90 connector connects the Mass Pike with the Ted Williams Tunnel."

..."One blogger, whose profile notes that he is an ICC Reinforced Concrete Special Inspector and an ICC Pre-stressed Concrete Special Inspector, among other specialties, says he has nearly 20 years of experience performing both placement and post-placement inspections of rebar, post-tensioning systems, concrete, masonry, etc. He says if structural engineers who specify epoxy for dowels and the like believe that the work is being done correctly then they live in a world unfamiliar to him. 'The key instructions to correctly epoxy in a dowel are either unknown to or widely ignored by contractors. You would be astonished at the number of so-called epoxied dowels that I can pull out with one bare hand,' he posted."

Thanks to Slashdot

Friday, July 28, 2006 in Design News

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

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