The Big Dig Keeps Burrowing Along Toward Completion

In last year's Winter 2000 issue of The Source, we told you of progress on Boston's Big Dig project, slated for completion in December, 2004. The past year was a wild one for the project, with management shakeups and cost overruns making national headlines. A new management team has put the project firmly back on track, with now over 65% of construction complete. Eventually, open spaces and parks will replace the decrepit elevated Central Artery, with the underground I-93 carrying traffic below. The photograph on the right illustrates the old and the new, with an elegant new 10-lane, cable-stayed bridge rising in front of double decks of the over the Charles River as northbound travellers emerge from the underground artery near the FleetCenter.

Progress Update

In late January, 2001, workers broke through a wall of artificially frozen soil, installing the final 380 foot section of tunnel that will carry traffic between the Mass Pike (I-90) extension and the Ted Williams Tunnel. Over the previous several years, engineers had executed an innovative method of freezing the soft clay soil to allow tunneling without disturbing commuter and inter-city rail tracks directly above.

Standard Electric has been an active partner to the Big Dig's major contractors and engineers, helping select, specify, and supply materials, including enclosures, conduits, lighting, substation transformers, panelboards and various controls which will be installed across the project over the next several years.

The Big Dig Timeline

Planning for the Big Dig began in 1982. Today, the project has passed its halfway point toward completion. Take a look at some of the major milestones that have already been passed, and some of the ones to come.

April, 1983		Environmental studies began
September 1991		Construction began on the Ted Williams Tunnel
December 1995		Ted Williams Tunnel opened to the public
June 2002 (originally December 2001)		Mass Pike Extension (I-90) to Ted Williams Tunnel will open
November 2002 (Originally July 2002)		Northbound Central Artery will open
November 2003 (originally July 2003)		Northbound Central Artery will open
December 2004		Demolition of Elevated Central Artery and restoration of surface will be completed