Better Late than Never at a cost of $14.8 billion … The Big Dig in Boston is Complete

The “Big Dig” has seemingly come to an end and only at an expense of $14.8 billion. The initial cost of this Boston, MA construction project was $2.6 billion. This is one anniversary that no one will be popping a champaign cork to. It seems like construction just started such a short time ago. Yeah, like 1991!!!

After a history marked by engineering triumphs, tunnels leaks, epic traffic jams, last year’s death of a motorist crushed by falling concrete panels and a price tag that soared from $2.6 billion to a staggering $14.8 billion, there’s little appetite for celebration.

Civil and criminal cases stemming from the July 2006 tunnel ceiling collapse continue, though on Monday the family of Milena Del Valle announced a $6 million settlement with Powers Fasteners, the company that manufactured the epoxy blamed by investigators for the accident. Lawsuits are pending against other Big Dig contractors, and Powers Fasteners still faces a manslaughter indictment.

Officially, Dec. 31 marks the end of the joint venture that teamed megaproject contractor Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff with the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority to build the dizzying array of underground highways, bridges, ramps and a new tunnel under Boston Harbor — all while the city remained open for business.

On Dec. 31, It’s Official: Boston’s Big Dig Will Be Done