Big Dig – GeoPrac.net

Bridge and Tunnel Engineer, Thomas R. Kuesel 1926-2010

February 25, 2010 rockman Comments Off

Newport Bridge, Newport, R.I., much of the BART subway system and Boston’s Big Dig were among the numerous significant projects worked on by the late Thomas R. Kuesel. He was a well known civil engineer and tunneling expert, co-editor of the “Tunnel Engineering Handbook,” a standard reference for design and construction used worldwide. One of his most noteworthy tunneling projects was the NORAD Combat Operations Center beneath Cheyenne Mountain near Colorado Springs, built during the height of the Cold War and designed to withstand a nuclear blast. Read on for a full obituary chronicling his distinguished career.

[…]

Press Releases

Nicholson Acquires Terra Drilling

January 13, 2009 rockman Comments Off

Pittsburgh, PA: Nicholson Construction Company has acquired the capital stock of Terra Drilling Company Inc., a geotechnical contractor headquartered in Hudson, MA.

The acquisition strengthens Nicholson’s position in the New England market, where Terra Drilling has completed hundreds of piling, earth retention, and grouting projects since it was founded in 1984. [Editor] Click through for the rest of the press release. [/Editor]

[…]

Pittsburgh PA Light Rail Tunnel Construction and Cost Overruns

February 24, 2008 rockman Comments Off

The Port Authority of Allegheny County (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) has a major transit improvement project dubbed the North Shore Connector. Its main components are twin bored tunnels 1.2 miles long that will connect the Port Authorityâ€™s Light Rail Transit system, the T, 1.2 miles from the Gateway Subway Station underneath Stanwix Street and the Allegheny River to the North Shore. It will travel under the river and provide three new stations and allow for future improvements beneficial to future development and continued downtown revitalization. The $435 million project is making news recently for cost increases, drawing comparisons to Bostonâ€™s Big Dig much to the dismay of the Port Authority. Read on for project maps, links and more info.

[…]

Colorado’s I-70 Could Have Boston’s Big Dig Beat

February 11, 2008 rockman Comments Off

The planning board for transportation improvements along the I-70 corridor in the Denver area of Colorado is pondering some improvements that, if implemented, could rival Boston’s "Big Dig" for cost. A high-speed train is being considered which alone could run $12 billion.

"A high-speed train is really the long-term solution, and . . . part of America’s long-term future is getting people out of single-occupancy vehicles," said Penny, Frisco town manager and head of the I-70 Coalition. He added that an I-70 project could outstrip Boston’s $14.8 billion "Big Dig."

[…]

US House Passes National Tunnel Inspection Program

January 25, 2008 rockman Comments Off

The US House of Representatives passed legislation approving a national tunnel inspection program. This of course came about as a result of a fatal accident from 2006 in a tunnel on Boston’s Big Dig project where a concrete ceiling tile fell on a car killing one person. More after the break.

[…]

Boston’s Big Dig Finally Complete

January 4, 2008 rockman Comments Off

The $14.8 billion project that has constructed a dizzying array of underground highways, bridges, ramps and tunnels in the middle of Boston has finally ended. The end of 2007 apparently was also the end of the Bechtel/Parsons Brinkerhoff joint venture that designed and built the project. More… (Photo by brewrat)

[…]