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Romney signs law targeting design errors on Big Dig
By Raphael Lewis, Globe Staff, 3/6/2003
PART ONE
Graphics PART TWO
Graphic PART THREE
This series has generated strong response from the state, the public, and Globe columnists.
On Feb. 20, 2003, Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff issued a document disputing the findings of the "Easy Pass" series. Globe editor Martin Baron responded with a defense of the Globe's reporting.
Building a reputation
Central Artery/Tunnel Project
Bechtel
Parsons Brinckerhoff
State Inspector General reports
About "Scheme Z" bridge design
State oversight of the Big Dig
Mass. Turnpike Authority
The Artery Business Committee
On February 11, 2003, Globe reporter Raphael Lewis chatted with Boston.com readers about the Bechtel series.
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The legislation, prompted by a Globe investigation that tied $1.1 billion in overruns to mistakes and poor decisions to the Big Dig's private-sector managers, Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff, gives state officials 10 years to file ''cost recovery'' claims. Previously, the law allowed the state three years after discovering a contractor mistake to file a negligence claim, and only six years for a breach of contract suit. Until yesterday, hundreds of Big Dig mistakes were out-of-reach to state lawyers, who are now involved in an intense effort to pinpoint errors and seek recovery. ''The governor, after reading the Globe expose, definitely felt that the Commonwealth needs to do everything possible to get back any and all funds owed to us,'' said Romney spokeswoman Karen Grant. The legislation enjoyed unanimous backing in the Legislature, where lawmakers are grappling with a fiscal crisis that makes the prospect of recovering large sums of money all the more popular. In addition to signing the bill, Romney has begun hiring an independent team scrutinize the more than $1.6 billion in Big Dig construction cost overruns rung up to date. Romney met with Bechtel/ Parsons Brinckerhoff executives last week to outline the plan, which the company endorsed.
This story ran on page B4 of the Boston Globe on 3/6/2003.
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2001
overnor Mitt Romney signed legislation yesterday aimed at vastly increasing the probability that state lawyers will recover some of the hundreds of millions of dollars lost to Big Dig management and design errors.
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