Big Dig: I-93 Tunnels Are Safe

BOSTON -- After an expert who investigated the Big Dig tunnel's leaks cast doubt on the safety of the Interstate 93 tunnel, Gov. Mitt Romney said he will ask for the state's highest court to help him remove Massachusetts Turnpike Chairman Matt Amorello from power.

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NewsCenter 5's Jack Harper reported that engineer Jack Lemley said he could no longer vouch for the tunnel's safety.

Lemley testified on Beacon Hill last November that there were no public safety risks to motorists driving through the tunnel. But in a letter dated March 9, Lemley told the Turnpike Authority that new information surfaced that dozens of sections of tunnel wall contain construction defects and that fireproofing material has been damaged by leaks.

While the news caused new concerns for commuters, Big Dig officials insisted that the I-93 tunnel is safe.

"Let me start by assuring you that the I-93 tunnels are safe and structurally sound. That was the case when we opened the tunnels in 2003, and was the case even after last September's slurry wall breach, and it remains the case today," said Amorello.

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Jack Harper Reports On Tunnel Janet Wu Reports On Big Dig

"The tunnels are safe, they are quite safe, and it is outrageous and irresponsible to suggest otherwise," said project engineer John Christian.

Amorello said he didn't read Lemley's letter until Tuesday.

"I read Jack Lemley's letter today. He doesn't say (the tunnel) is unsafe, he doesn't say it is safe. He makes no opinion. He was working on cost-recovery, and we respect the work he has done in regards to cost-recovery. We could not be turning over what were turning over to the attorney general's office without the work Jack and his team put in place," said Amorello.

NewsCenter 5's Janet Wu reported that Romney has called for Amorello's resignation several times in recent months.

"It has been absolutely startling to me that the Turnpike Authority's own engineering consultant cannot vouch for the safety of the Central Artery tunnel because he has been denied access to critical records and documents that would allow him to form an opinion. With the Big Dig there has been a pattern of cover up and stonewalling that has left the public with little confidence that the project is being managed well, or that the road and tunnel system is safe for travel. This is intolerable. The culture of construction and cover-up starts at the very top.

Romney said he would seek the assistance of the state's highest court to remove Amorello from power.

"Today I am taking the first step to remove Matt Amorelllo as chairman of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority. Today I will ask the Supreme Judicial Court for an advisory opinion to confirm my power to remove the chairman. As soon as the court responds in the affirmative, I will install new leadership," he said.

Romney also called on Attorney General Tom Reilly to seize the documents in question.

"I anticipate I will continue driving through the tunnel until I learn something that suggests it is not safe. I must admit that I hope in my heart that it is safe, and anticipate that it will be found as such. The consultant did not say it was not safe, he did not have the documents necessary to determine whether it is safe," said Romney.

It may take months for the SJC to respond to Romney's request.