The BIG DIG

Team Summit Topic Presentation

April 19th, 2005

Tommy Nguyen & Candace Pederson

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…

Conditions will only worsen…

• High congestion at least 10 hours/day• Has 4x’s 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

Boston’s 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.

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)

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.html#problem

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

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

Project TIME management

• Project started in 1991 (design began in 1980s)

• Summer 2004, 94% complete

• Entire project will be finished mid-2005

• 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…

Timeline

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

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

Current Problems

• Cost overruns!

• Leaky tunnel walls

• Tuesday April 5th: Dirt/debris fall and hit motorists (damage cars/ambulance)

The Big Dig

References

• Official website: http://www.masspike.com/bigdig/index.html

• CNN.com: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/4351211/detail.html?subid=22100410&qs=1;bp=t

• Boston News: http://www.boston.com/news/traffic/bigdig/

• Photos: http://www.csmonitor.com/slideshows/durableSlideshows/bigdig/slide7.html