Boston Big Dig Tunnel Collapse Thread

[MassNole]

CNN.com Link

Obviously this is a much bigger deal in MA than elsewhere, but it probably should have a thread. For those who don't know the Big Dig was an attempt in Boston to create a transit structure that would vastly cut down on the city's huge traffic problems. It has cost the state billions of dollars and has very much come at the expense of the rest of the state west of Worcester. Earlier this week a woman was killed when part of the tunnel collapsed, which is tragic. Now they are launching a criminal investigation to apparently spend more of the state's limited money, and I am sure those of us in Western MA will continue to take it up the butt from Eastern MA.

[UMass03]

Re: Boston Big Dig Tunnel Collapse Thread

It still surprises me that people are shocked when something falls off, collapses, leaks gallons of harbor water, etc...

Its terrible that a woman had to die for someone to get off their *** and demand inspections.

This project is the definition of mismanagement. I did a paper on it in college and one of the hack planning firms that PB&B hired forgot in one phase that their plan for part of the tunnel would one, run smack into the basement of the Fleet Center and two, collapse a large section of the Greenline.

[SPTO]

Re: Boston Big Dig Tunnel Collapse Thread

As someone who doesn't live in Mass I have a question:

Why hasn't Mass done something like this, oh 50 FREAKING YEARS AGO!?

Toronto, which isn't nearly as bad underwent the huge building of the TTC subway system 60 years ago by blasting whole city streets thereby disrupting street traffic for MONTHS yet in the end it was worth it as Toronto has one of the best subway systems in the world.

A transit/underground system like this is virtually impossible to do in this modern age and because people are concerned about cost over runs and efficiency you get crap like this.

I feel sorry for the woman that died and I feel just as bad for the residents of Mass who have to pay through their nose for what amounts to a modern day boondoggle of a project.

[MassNole]

Re: Boston Big Dig Tunnel Collapse Thread

As someone who doesn't live in Mass I have a question:

Why hasn't Mass done something like this, oh 50 FREAKING YEARS AGO!?

Toronto, which isn't nearly as bad underwent the huge building of the TTC subway system 60 years ago by blasting whole city streets thereby disrupting street traffic for MONTHS yet in the end it was worth it as Toronto has one of the best subway systems in the world.

A transit/underground system like this is virtually impossible to do in this modern age and because people are concerned about cost over runs and efficiency you get crap like this.

I feel sorry for the woman that died and I feel just as bad for the residents of Mass who have to pay through their nose for what amounts to a modern day boondoggle of a project.

This isn't a subway system, Boston actually has a really good subway system. If it is on par with NY or Toronto, I don't know and won't claim it is, but it is pretty good. The Big Dig was tunnels for cars to reduce traffic. Some of the plans looked like something out of the Jetsons, I haven't seen the quasi-finished product as I usually go to Alewife and take the subway into Boston. To call this a colossal failure would be a huge understatement. What is truly sad with it that people from Eastern Mass don't realize is that this whole project has come at the expense of Western MA (but then again so doesn't everything in MA), we have bridges that have been out for years and our roads are pathetic.

[EWRMETS]

Re: Boston Big Dig Tunnel Collapse Thread

This isn't a subway system, Boston actually has a really good subway system. If it is on par with NY or Toronto, I don't know and won't claim it is, but it is pretty good. The Big Dig was tunnels for cars to reduce traffic. Some of the plans looked like something out of the Jetsons, I haven't seen the quasi-finished product as I usually go to Alewife and take the subway into Boston. To call this a colossal failure would be a huge understatement. What is truly sad with it that people from Eastern Mass don't realize is that this whole project has come at the expense of Western MA (but then again so doesn't everything in MA), we have bridges that have been out for years and our roads are pathetic.

You must never take the Green line, B train.

[MassNole]

Re: Boston Big Dig Tunnel Collapse Thread

You must never take the Green line, B train.

Where does it go through in Boston?

[EWRMETS]

Re: Boston Big Dig Tunnel Collapse Thread

Where does it go through in Boston?

B Line is Gov't Center to Boston College. It goes through Copley like all the Green Lines do. It has BU and BC students on it all the time so it gets ridiculously crowded.

[SPTO]

Re: Boston Big Dig Tunnel Collapse Thread

This isn't a subway system, Boston actually has a really good subway system. If it is on par with NY or Toronto, I don't know and won't claim it is, but it is pretty good. The Big Dig was tunnels for cars to reduce traffic. Some of the plans looked like something out of the Jetsons, I haven't seen the quasi-finished product as I usually go to Alewife and take the subway into Boston. To call this a colossal failure would be a huge understatement. What is truly sad with it that people from Eastern Mass don't realize is that this whole project has come at the expense of Western MA (but then again so doesn't everything in MA), we have bridges that have been out for years and our roads are pathetic.

Yeah I know it isn't for a subway system but I was giving an example of what a massive infrastructure project can and will do for people if done right. Obviously the politicians in Mass. and the people involved in building the tunnels chose to cut corners and this is the result.

[MassNole]

Re: Boston Big Dig Tunnel Collapse Thread

B Line is Gov't Center to Boston College. It goes through Copley like all the Green Lines do. It has BU and BC students on it all the time so it gets ridiculously crowded.

Never been on that one actually. I visited BU out of HS but we drove.

[fsquid]

Re: Boston Big Dig Tunnel Collapse Thread

I have to be up there next week for business. Is the tunnel the only way out of Logan? I'm going to Concord.

[MassNole]

Re: Boston Big Dig Tunnel Collapse Thread

I have to be up there next week for business. Is the tunnel the only way out of Logan? I'm going to Concord.

\

I was on the Pike Tuesday and they had signs saying find alternate ways to and from Logan because of the collapse, so you may be in trouble.

[ILLCHILL]

Re: Boston Big Dig Tunnel Collapse Thread

Yea Boston is an absolute mess to get around any time of the year, now with this unfortunate incident getting around will be significantly tougher.

[fsquid]

Re: Boston Big Dig Tunnel Collapse Thread

I knew I should have flown into Manchester, NH.

[MassNole]

Re: Boston Big Dig Tunnel Collapse Thread

I knew I should have flown into Manchester, NH.

Are you going to Concord, NH or Concord, MA?

[BTB]

Re: Boston Big Dig Tunnel Collapse Thread

Dude the T sucks... its so inefficient compared to other more modern subway systems