More Boston Tunnel Flaws Found

Legislation Passed for Governor to Take Over Big Dig Project

Workers remove faulty tiles at the mouth of the Interstate 90 connector in Boston. Officials said that ceiling bolts are separating from roof panels. (By Darren Mccollester -- Getty Images)

BOSTON, July 13 -- 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, as Gov. Mitt Romney (R) moved to take control of the troubled highway project.

The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority said additional bolts in the problem areas were separating from three-ton concrete roof panels; previous inspections had found 60 defects. The earlier defects were enough for officials to order a review of every roadway, tunnel and bridge in Boston's 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 International Airport. Forty-five problem bolts were found in a lane carrying carpool traffic, as well as 69 in ramps connecting two interstates.

Romney filed emergency legislation to take control over inspections and when to reopen the tunnel, which has been closed for three days. The governor has called for the resignation of the head of the Turnpike Authority, which oversees inspections of the Big Dig, the nation's most expensive highway project.

"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, 'It's now safe,' that's 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."

Lawmakers passed the governor's plan late Thursday. Romney said he planned to sign it on Friday.

Lewis said the tunnel has been closed since the accident Monday night that killed Milena Del Valle, 38, and injured her husband, Angel, who was able to crawl out of the mangled car.

He said the road may remain closed for weeks, until federal officials review the panels and workers fix any needing repair. "It will be reopened in segments, not all at once," he said.

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

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

Also Thursday, 12 members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation signed a letter asking the National Transportation Safety Board to lead the investigation. They said it is one of the few agencies without any apparent involvement in the project that would pose a conflict of interest.