The BIG DIG

1
The BIG DIG

• Team Summit Topic Presentation
• April 19th, 2005
• Tommy Nguyen Candace Pederson

2
Problem

• Boston, Massachusetts main highway - the 6 lane
  Central Artery - (built in 1959) along with the
  harbor crossings could not predict the
  exponential growing Boston community that it
  would have to support in the years to come

3
Conditions will only worsen

• High congestion at least 10 hours/day
• Has 4xs the national accident rate average
• Deteriorating and becoming unstable and unsafe
• Environmental concerns
• Wasted fuel from idling and late deliveries cost
  drivers 500 million dollars/year
• this elevated highway cuts off communities from
  Boston severing them from economic culture

4
Bostons Future

• By 2010, it is predicted that the Central Artery
  will be completely congested with a permanent
  traffic jam that lasts all day and all night.

5
SolutionCA/T (Central Artery/Tunnels Project or
The Big Dig)

• 8-10 lane UNDERGROUND expressway underneath the
  existing structure
• Merging as a 14 lane two bridge crossing over the
  St. Charles river
• Central Artery will be demolished and space used
  for other developments (such as park space)

6
Challenges

• To put these highway improvements in the ground
  in a city like Boston proved to be one of the
  largest, most technically difficult and
  environmentally challenging infrastructure
  projects ever undertaken in the United States.
  (http//www.masspike.com/bigdig/background/index.h
  tmlproblem

7
Predicted Solution Benefits

• Less time in traffic!
• 12 reduction in carbon monoxide levels
• Connect communities that were once severed
• 260 acres of open land much of it used for new
  parks
• Capped off old dumps with dirt from project

8
Project SCOPE Management

• Replace the 6 lane elevated highway with an 8-10
  lane underground expressway
• 14 lane/2 bridge crossing over St. Charles River
• Old highway used for parks/developments
• Add extension of I-90 (Mass Turnpike) will be a
  tunnel beneath South Boston the Boston Harbor
• First link will be the Ted Williams Tunnel under
  the harbor

9
Project TIME management

• Project started in 1991 (design began in 1980s)
• Summer 2004, 94 complete
• Entire project will be finished mid-2005

10
Timeline

• 1983 Work begins on Final Environmental Impact
  Statement/Report
• 1987 Congress approves funding and scope of
  Project. Building acquisition and business
  relocation process begins.
• 1990  Congress allocates 755 million to
  project.  Construction begins on Ted Williams
  Tunnel and South Boston Haul Road.  
• 1992 More than 1 billion in design and
  construction contracts under way. Dredging and
  blasting for the Ted Williams Tunnel ongoing.
  Archaeologists find 17th and 18th century
  artifacts at a North End dig. 
• 1993 South Boston Haul Road opens. All 12 tube
  sections for Ted Williams Tunnel are placed and
  connected on harbor floor. 
• 1994 Charles River Crossing design approved. 
  New set of loop ramps open in Charlestown. 
• 1998 Enter peak construction years, including
  Charles River Crossing.  
• 1999 Overall construction 50 percent complete. 
  New Broadway Bridge opens. 2000  Nearly 5,000
  workers employed on the Big Dig
• 2001  Overall construction 70 percent complete. 
• 2004  Dismantling of the elevated Central Artery
  (I-93). Looking Ahead . . .
• 2005 96 complete. Issues are popping up

11
Project COST management

• Construction 9,120 Million
• Force Accounts 596 Million
• Right of Way Settlements 572 Million
• Design 996 Million
• Project Management 1962 Million
• Insurance 572 Million
• Contingency 258 Million

12
Project Management Monthly (PMM)

• CA/T established this report to publicly document
  scope, schedule, and cost progress.
• Posted on website for anyone to view
• Lists all project management details that are
  discussed

13
Current Problems

• Cost overruns!
• Leaky tunnel walls
• Tuesday April 5th Dirt/debris fall and hit
  motorists (damage cars/ambulance)

14
The Big Dig
15
References

• Official website http//www.masspike.com/bigdig/i
  ndex.html
• CNN.com http//www.thebostonchannel.com/news/4351
  211/detail.html?subid22100410qs1bpt
• Boston News http//www.boston.com/news/traffic/bi
  gdig/
• Photos http//www.csmonitor.com/slideshows/durabl
  eSlideshows/bigdig/slide7.html