the Big Mattress - Freeform Interactive Radio on the Net

They're going to close the tunnel and build an overpass right through the city. It's going to cost billions but politician’s claim it will be worth it due to alleviating Boston's heavy traffic. There's also been some talk of converting the Ted Williams tunnel into a 3 1/2 mile long aquarium...the only one of its kind in the world.

Maybe Ted Williams' kids could have the tunnels frozen, and sell off the DNA to clone other major cities with identical major incompetence, good-ole boy's contracts and Homeric price gouging? $12 Million bid to $14 Billion actual costs? That's f*cking criminal!
And now the contractor Modern Continental is pleading bankruptcy and pulling a Kenny Ley by having a 'convenient heart attack' - Absolving all parties from accountability. I rode through that tunnel with my brother the afternoon before that 'accident'. It could have been us!

It's a scary situation. I rarely drive my car through the Big Dig tunnels now. I think I'll avoid them completely just to be on the safe side.

If the Globe weren't so fucking lazy and would stop acting like the suburban edition to the New York Times and get back to it's Flashlight....I mean Spotlight Team Reporting, this story could be the next Enron Story and Heads should roll, probably all the way up on a state level and possibly into a federal level too. Fifteen BIllion Dollars is nothing to sneeze at, especially when substandard work was done. The state auditor was on Eagan and Braude yesterday; the guy can't talk for beans-used to be a boxer, but once he got rolling, what he said was disgusting- that he saw substandard work and work being inspected by the company DOING the actual work and the state allowing it, ignoring his recommendations and concerns, signing off on things; these guys being so over their dumb heads in a project bigger that any federal road project in history, no leadership, money pouring through the cracks (with the water ironically), the governors- all of them, stepping aside their authority and not really getting involved, one of them planning on running for president who will not mention Bechtel's name on the record (why, political donations??? like other big corporations that we know of???) This is a can of worms that is really REALLY BIG.

Another thing: The Boston Herald is doing a great job on this story.

and in case anyone missed, it... this is a *criminal* investigation now. We're not just talking about the pumps in the depressed artery not being able to keep up with the leaks (causing thick ice patches in the artery last winter), but the fact that these tie-backs are used in 17 other locations in the tunnels and artery could mean many restrictions and closures while they investigate each and every one.

And of course, the elevated artery isn't there to carry the traffic any more, even if there was a way to re-route people back to it (which they would not be because of the ramp structures).

Bottom line... traffic in Boston was "supposed" to get better or at least remain the same once the CA/T (Central Artery/Tunnel) project was finished. At this point, it could actually get a lot worse!!

Guys, listen to talk radio WTKK, Barnicle and Eagan and Braude and listen to the construction workers calling in and spilling the beans on this whole project and what they know- about supervisors and management and their decisions etc... it's HOT!
Modern Continental got a bonus from Bechtel if the project came in on time.... and on and on.
I'm sure other talk radio stations are the same. You won't shut the little guys up. The truth will come out on the radio.

Does anyone remember the “Boston Bypass”, the scenic bridge over the harbor that would terminate at Rt.1 and I-93, with access to Logan Airport, it would have cost 1/20 of the big dig and was a much more realistic solution. Oh, well add this to Teddy K’s body count because lets not forget he lead the effort to override Ronald Reagan’s Veto of this debacle.

The good news is after this years Global Warming caused Cat 3 Hurricane they can use the Big Dig as a Submarine Parking lot.

Ted Williams has now killed enough women to become an honorary Kennedy. Way to go Teddy Ballsack, I mean, Ballgame.

It wasn't in the Ted Williams tunnel. It was one of the access tunnels leading into the main central artery tunnel.

But it COULD have been the Ted Williams tunnel or the Eastern access or the Western access or the entire project for that matter.

And probably will be, h. This is a brand new project, supposed to last for years and years. Can't imagine the future wreckage in say 2 years or 10 or 20? Why don't we have the Mass Turnpike Authority and Modern Continental, as an act of good faith that all work done is safe, move their permanent offices down into the bowels of their Big Dig. Then let's see who dares to come to work everyday?

How about Matt Amarillo saying the very next day, that the tunnel was safe and it would be opened tomorrow BEFORE any inspection? That uneducated and SELF-SERVING and dangerous act should have gotten him canned alone. Interestingly, I heard yesterday, that these positions and departments, created within the state government, such as the Mass Turnpike Authority (and Massport, I'm guessing?) were set up in a way that they would be protected from politics as usual, that they were supposed to be safe from people in state government fiddling with them, for they were supposed to represent the highest order, namely serving the people of Massachusetts and their safety. BUT... they were supposed to be manned by the best of experts, such as engineers from MIT etc.... However, they became patronage jobs and they are STILL protected from the fate of government, namely, these people can't be removed and they can't be elected. So, as this writer said, we got the worst of both worlds.

I went through the Ted Williams Tunnel on the the way to Logan Friday 7/7. And the walls are still falling down. Only 14 Billion.

Mitt wants to be veep in 2008, so he is going to milk this for all it's worth. Mebbe his lust for power will provide the impetus to get things fixed up.

Remember, the Olympics that he saved in Salt Lake is lifetimes ago. I think you're on to something nooch. Rescuing this catastrophe is much more relevant and will stay in the voters mindset in a bigger and more current way. This is the Big Gig for Romney. If he acts like a leader, the Republicans will run with it.

It's the curse of the Tedsickle!

Ted's head was lobbed off and frozen for all time. Until we rejoin his head with the rest of his body bad things are going to happen in that tunnel. This is only the begining people.

Mitt's posturing is sickening and so is Amorello's incompetence.

H please note the spelling you of all people should get guinny names right! Mannagio Sant'Antonio!