Chicken Little in the Big Dig

[unixronin]

Well, OK, the sky isn't falling.  But apparently some pretty big chunks of the Big Dig tunnel ceilings did.  12 tons of concrete panels fell from the roof of a connector tunnel last night, crushing a car and killing a woman on her way to Logan Airport.

The failure is apparently because a steel tieback supporting the panels failed.  There are 60 similar panels in the tunnel, and all 60 are now being removed.  A larger concern is that the same panels and the same tiebacks are used in 17 other places throughout the Big Dig.  Does this mean they're all going to have to be removed?  If so, what will replace them, and how much will it cost, and how long will those tunnels be closed?

This isn't the first problem with the Big Dig.  I have a feeling it won't be the last.

Comments

[mazianni.livejournal.com]

Governor Romney's been trying to remove the head of the Mass Transit Authority for awhile. This will probably give him the leverage he needs.

The state AG, who's running for governor, is apparently looking to file subpeonas and lawsuits against anyone and everyone that might've been involved in the construction.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Is there anything that cannot or will not be exploited for political ends?

(....Yes, I know, it was a stupid question.)

[fatcook.livejournal.com]

According to "Here & Now" on NPR today, there is an investigation of one of the sub-contractor for using sub-standard concrete for most of the project.
The fun is just starting with this one. I just hope that no one else has to pay with their life for someones greed.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Yup, there was one series of leaks previously that was attributed to substandard concrete. This is going to be a hell of an expensive mess if it turns out significant parts of it have to be done over, and it goes without saying that if that happens, heads will roll.

I'm reminded, in this context, of the way the Swedes award civil contracts, as compared with the way the US does it.
In the US, the controlling agency requests sealed bids, waits until the bid period has closed, then opens all the bids and takes the lowest bid.
In Sweden, the controlling agency requests sealed bids, waits until the bid period has closed, then opens all the bids ... and that's where methods part company. The Swedes throw out the high bid, because the high bidder is probably being greedy and padding the bid. Then they throw out the low bid, because the low bidder is probably cutting corners to get the contract. Then they calculate the average of the remaining bids, and pick whichever bid is closest to that average.

And you know? I think they've got something.

[jilara.livejournal.com]

Isn't that related to the fact that Swedes have a thing for "middle of the road/adequate" that doesn't quite translate to a lot of other cultures? I say more power to them.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

I don't know about that. It seems to me like a carefully thought out strategy to get an honest contractor to do the job at a fair price, rather than the US system of "Try to get it for the lowest possible price, no matter what the consequences." I'll certainly pick "middle of the road" over "bottom dollar" every time, if I have the choice.

[ithildae.livejournal.com]

I have been reading about problems and corruption associated with the Big Dig since it's inception. Chickens -> Roost

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

And it's not even Chicago! ;)