The Big Dig Tunnel research

Unlike any other project, the big dig project became the supreme luxurious project in the history of the United States. However, it experienced some major problems that are said to have originated from its construction process. The paper will, therefore, focus to uncover the background of the project, obstacles encountered during its construction, problems, and solutions associated with the project. The Big Dig Tunnel The Big Dig tunnel was a megaproject in Boston that redirected the dominant artery of Federal 93, the principal pathway over and done with the middle of the city. The project was initiated in 1982, but its construction began in 1991 to 2007, with the major aim of counteracting the traffic congestion which was being experienced in the town. While arguments between environmental analysts and the local authority on the design and site of the construction of the project, Bechtel, and other contractors initiated the process using the Tobin Bridge approach.

By the time the two parties came to a similar conclusion on the 1-93 design, the construction of the Tobin connector was far along, suggestively amounting the building cost of the US Route swapping and retrofitting the tunnel. 2 During the first face of construction, the cost of the project together with the Charles River crossing was approximated to be $5. 8 billion. This created a sequence of question over the cost overrun leading to the dismissal of the chairman of the managing body. As indicated, the process took at least eight years to be approved. This long duration caused the initial cost of the project to increase as a result of inflation in the country. The agencies were reluctant that the tunnel construction would release toxins by the excavation machine and also destroy the habitat of millions of rodents.

The rodents would, therefore, destroy the town seeking a new place of residence. Traffic congestion was another obstacle that the construction process experienced. The surface condition of the site according to researchers was greatly underestimated leading to the many problems after its construction. Among the problems that will be discussed in the chapter includes leaking of the tunnel, cost overrun, and the ceiling is collapsing that claimed the lives of many citizens in the country. Leaking tunnel Back in 2001, the Turnpike Authority officials of the United States established that the tunnel had several cracks on its wall that was causing leakage to a great extent. A lot of resources was used by the United States government in an attempt to repair the cracks which are estimated to amount to $10 million.

The Turnpike officials reported that the cracks on the wall of the tunnel were as a result of the current continental and other subcontractors involved in the construction process failing to get rid of the gravel and other debris before pouring the material. Ceiling collapse The collapse of the ceiling of the Big Dig tunnel in Boston extensively caused the deaths of numerous citizens of the United States. This caused the state officials to rush in containing the situation to salvage and prevent further loss of life. For instance, in 2006, 26 tons of ceiling sheets and wreckages collapsed and chop down to a moving car that was traveling on the two-lane ramp which was joining the northbound 1-93 to eastbound 1-90 in South Boston.

The collapse of the ceiling caused a more significant jam traffic in the town, and as a result, many other individuals lost their lives in the traffic congestion. For instance, a citizen died due to a heart attack while on traffic heading to the hospital. A comprehensive follow up measures by the construction authority during the repair process was however initiated. This entails the use of the stainless metal that could be resistance to corrosion by salt water around the tunnel and the use of appropriate recommended materials to reinstall the big dig tunnel project. For instance, the expert established that the collapsed due to galvanic deterioration of the discordant metals that was caused by placing aluminum in direct interaction with the stainless metals.

Therefore, it is recommended that engineers responsible for the construction and repair of the project should focus extensively on the basic troubling questions on how the ceiling was built and henceforth taking proper remedy to prevent further challenges from the ceiling collapse. Cost overruns The big dig Boston tunnel was the supreme costly development in the United States and was overwhelmed by cost besieges arising from delays, design challenges, utilization of substantial materials and criminal arrest among other causes. He was also given an additional amount to fix the problem of the ceiling collapsing and leakage of the tunnel. The mistakes also cost taxpayers a cumulative amount of $991,000 which was to be paid by the company due to its mistake, but it never did and was also never question by any government official or federal bodies.

During the long period of research of 8 years on cost recovery, at least 10,000 overruns were approved by the examining body. The cost amounted to approximately $1. 4 billion. The substandard of the materials used in the construction process greatly contributed to the problems above of collapsing, leakage tunnel ceiling of the tunnel and finally cost overruns. Solutions to the Problem Like any other problem around the world, there is always a solution whether successful or unsuccessful. The big dig Boston tunnel project was constructed in the United States to alleviate the traffic congestion that was being experienced in the nation. However, it turned out to be a burden to the government and event claimed the lives of the citizens. During its construction, numerous mistakes were made by Bechtel and other construction engineers assigned the task.

Materials resistance to rusting were also used such as stainless steel during the repair process. During its original installation, it was forecasted to carry traffic of at most a volume of 75,000 vehicles on a daily basis. However, due to the amplified number of vehicles in the United States, the tunnel was burdened by a daily volume of at least 200,000 vehicles. This was also as a result of the urban congestion in the country. 10 As a result, extra volume on the tunnel exerted an extra pressure on the tunnel overweighing the materials used hence causing its collapsing. 6 billion with numerous cost overruns. The construction of the big dig tunnel projected was subjected to a variety of obstacles which is assumed to have been the cause of the problems experienced.

During the construction, the various challenges ranging from political, financial and environmental difficulties among others were encountered. Emission of toxin in the air was among the serious environmental threat that saw the construction process delayed. Tunnel leakage, collapsing of the ceiling, cost overruns and substandard materials are among the core problems experienced after the construction of the tunnel. " International Journal of Project Management 33, no. Douglas, Ellen M. , Paul H. Kirshen, Kirk Bosma, Chris Watson, Steven Miller, and Katharine McArthur. "Simulating the impacts and assessing the vulnerability of the central artery/tunnel system to sea level rise and increased coastal flooding. Heath, and Emad F. Gad. "Best practice specification, design and installation for post-installed anchors in safety-critical applications. " In Australasian Structural Engineering Conference: ASEC 2016, p.