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Big Dig Dispute Drives Taxpayers Bill up $8.3M
Boston Herald
By, Casey Ross, June 11, 2008
The
Big Dig has soaked taxpayers for another $8.3 million because
transportation officials cannot resolve a decade-long dispute over leaky
tunnel walls and cracked ramps leading to Logan International Airport, a
new report has found.
“It’s
never-ending,” State Auditor Joseph DeNucci said of Big Dig dysfunction.
“This is a problem that never should have happened. Unfortunately, the
taxpayers always end up holding the bag.”
An
audit released by DeNucci yesterday found that the additional costs
resulted from an impasse between the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority,
which managed the Big Dig, and the Massachusetts Port Authority, which was
supposed to pay for its benefits.
Instead,
Massport repeatedly complained about shoddy workmanship in the Ted
Williams Tunnel and roadways leading
motorists into Logan International Airport. After years of warnings,
Massport in 2005 decided to withhold $50 million to force the Turnpike
Authority to make repairs.
Still,
the dispute continued without resolution, forcing taxpayers to fund $8.3
million in additional borrowing costs while Massport’s money remained in
legal limbo.
“For
the taxpayer, this is an open wound with salt perpetually pouring in,”
said State Sen. Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford), a longtime critic of the
Big Dig. “There have to be assurances that this can never happen
again.”
In
his audit, DeNucci concluded that Pike officials, many of whom have since
resigned or been fired, were largely responsible for the additional costs
because of the failure to quickly correct faulty work.
The
Pike sharply disputed that finding, saying that the authority “neither
caused nor is responsible for the additional costs caused by the timing of
Massport’s payments to the commonwealth.”
After
learning of the audit, Massport quickly paid most of the outstanding $50
million but continues to withhold $12.4 million pending the completion of
remedial work.
Pike
officials said they expect to complete the work this summer and will seek
reimbursement from contractors.