Let me get this straight – the concrete celing panels were GLUED on with no other attachments, such as steel bolts? That’s scary to think where else this construction technique is being used.
From what I’ve read previously, the panels were held up with a combination of the epoxy as well as bolts which were secured with epoxy (although I don’t recall if the bolts were secured with the same type of epoxy).
I also remember reading one article where loose bolts were temporarily secured with *duct tape!* in some places until they could be “properly” replaced or repaired.
I drove through parts of the Big Dig during a trip in 2006. I think I’d rather take my chances with the traffic congestion on the surface than risk my life through that scary, leaking, congested tunnel ever again.
This borders on criminal negligence. How does any architect/engineer justify using only adhesive to support a multi-ton slab of concrete on the roof of a freeway tunnel? The heat and vibration alone would be a concern. The sad part is that everyone involved in this got paid for their work and I doubt anyone lost a job over this. Everyone involved in the design, installation, and inspection of this mess should have been terminated and their licenses revoked. Think about the ridiculous amount of time and money that was paid for this project. This is a national embarassment.
Why does the idea that concrete roof supports were glued and it happens to be in Boston not surprise me? After all, this is the same city shut down by a bunch of blinking LEDs and also the one with the most lax airport security.
Another scary thought – – the same construction company is apparently building the Hoover Dam by-pass with the largest single span concrete arch in the USA (maybe the world). They are already over buget and delayed by two years. Do I want to drive on that span 600 ft above the canyon?
Great, and now I suppose I need to take down my old SUV that I had epoxyed to the rafters of my garage, just so it won’t fall on the kids next door. Bummer!
Sense of humor? Where (also) is common sense here?
Can we say regulations? Can we say standards? If not, they we will surely learn to say “Litigation.”
Crush the malfeasors as they crushed that innocent woman.
ad…..No, your post wasn’t funny, just irrelevant. By dodging my initial question(I made it yes or not so as not to confuse you)I can only presume you have no meaningul comment to offer.
I found the humor offered an excellent counterpoint to the baleful aspects of this family and public tragedy. It was most stimulating of thought. It placed the malfeasance in stark relief and aided contemplation of the full range of possible causes, while evoking a poignant sympathy for the victim.
Those without a sense of humor are doomed never to have one and never to understand the benefits of humor and alas never to see as far as those that do.
NOW, back to your big broker management job, Dwight Shroot–your grandmother and mother missed their targets and need terminating before your next bonus period begins! It’s all about competition and survival of the grimmest! Life is not to be enjoyed!
Sorry, please expalin the humurous content of your remakrs so we may appreciate them. This is a sincere request. We regret our lack of humor in this instance. Please forgive us as we are only on our journey to becoming human.
rather than the engineers, workers, contractors, inspectors and regulators.
The design was lame from the beginning (the hanging concrete panels had to be an afterthought)
They should have used galvanized steel panels, not multi ton concrete panels, their purpose was air circulation and maintenance, they only had to support the weight of 1 or 2 men.
If they had designed it for concrete panels they would have wrapped threaded rods around the buried tunnel structural rebar (but that would have required pre planning).
The workers were too stupid to say “hey this is an incredibly bad idea”.
The engineers would have been executed in CHina.
The contractors were big political donors and brain dead.
The inspectors were negligent.
Epoxy creep is the last reason the panels fell, nobody AND I MEAN NOBODY has ever or will ever design such a lame structure dependent on vertical rods anchored in epoxy.
It was beyond stupid, Boston has a less than flat learning curve, they still have multi ton concrete ceiling panels bolted to the ceiling, I can see why Ted Kennedy gets re-elected over and over.
Everybody should be prosecuted EXCEPT THE EPOXY MANUFACTURER, had they asked for a consult the epoxy company would have nixed the plan. A 15 year old illegal alien laborer could have seen the folly of this plan.
A car explosion (not an intentional bomb) could send a pressure wave through the tunnel and collapse the whole panel structure for miles killing thousands.
Let me get this straight – the concrete celing panels were GLUED on with no other attachments, such as steel bolts? That’s scary to think where else this construction technique is being used.
The involved companies state they “stand behind their work”. But nothing indicated they would “stand under their work”.
Hi Lauren,
From what I’ve read previously, the panels were held up with a combination of the epoxy as well as bolts which were secured with epoxy (although I don’t recall if the bolts were secured with the same type of epoxy).
I also remember reading one article where loose bolts were temporarily secured with *duct tape!* in some places until they could be “properly” replaced or repaired.
I drove through parts of the Big Dig during a trip in 2006. I think I’d rather take my chances with the traffic congestion on the surface than risk my life through that scary, leaking, congested tunnel ever again.
This borders on criminal negligence. How does any architect/engineer justify using only adhesive to support a multi-ton slab of concrete on the roof of a freeway tunnel? The heat and vibration alone would be a concern. The sad part is that everyone involved in this got paid for their work and I doubt anyone lost a job over this. Everyone involved in the design, installation, and inspection of this mess should have been terminated and their licenses revoked. Think about the ridiculous amount of time and money that was paid for this project. This is a national embarassment.
Doug, funny post
ad ……….. did you have an intelligent comment to make on the topic?
Why do you ask?
It was the Mooninites’ fault.
Why does the idea that concrete roof supports were glued and it happens to be in Boston not surprise me? After all, this is the same city shut down by a bunch of blinking LEDs and also the one with the most lax airport security.
ad……..because this is forum for insurance professionals to discuss relevant issues. It’s not a comedy club for those with nothing to say.
Was my post funny?
Another scary thought – – the same construction company is apparently building the Hoover Dam by-pass with the largest single span concrete arch in the USA (maybe the world). They are already over buget and delayed by two years. Do I want to drive on that span 600 ft above the canyon?
NV visitor…who is the contractor?
blogmaster,
Insurance professionals are allowed to have a sense of humor. Just look at Doug’s post. It was obviously a joke and you didn’t have a problem with it.
Yes, by all means, go back there in Nevada in October. You can have a nice long trip in the Fall.
The bickering back and forth between people is why nothing gets done…something to think about…
Great, and now I suppose I need to take down my old SUV that I had epoxyed to the rafters of my garage, just so it won’t fall on the kids next door. Bummer!
Sense of humor? Where (also) is common sense here?
Can we say regulations? Can we say standards? If not, they we will surely learn to say “Litigation.”
Crush the malfeasors as they crushed that innocent woman.
Nothing gets done because we spend too much time posting and reading replies.
Back to work!!!!!!1
ad…..No, your post wasn’t funny, just irrelevant. By dodging my initial question(I made it yes or not so as not to confuse you)I can only presume you have no meaningul comment to offer.
Nothing gets done? In an inusrance office?
That could be a good thing!
(da..da..doom on the snare drum).
Blogmaster, I don’t remember seeing anything of importance in your comments. Why the attitude?
I found the humor offered an excellent counterpoint to the baleful aspects of this family and public tragedy. It was most stimulating of thought. It placed the malfeasance in stark relief and aided contemplation of the full range of possible causes, while evoking a poignant sympathy for the victim.
Those without a sense of humor are doomed never to have one and never to understand the benefits of humor and alas never to see as far as those that do.
NOW, back to your big broker management job, Dwight Shroot–your grandmother and mother missed their targets and need terminating before your next bonus period begins! It’s all about competition and survival of the grimmest! Life is not to be enjoyed!
All I have to say is…what about the west side of the country that is engulfed in flames??? Epoxy wouldn’t even help them…
What no comments?!?!?! Who did I offend?
Sorry, please expalin the humurous content of your remakrs so we may appreciate them. This is a sincere request. We regret our lack of humor in this instance. Please forgive us as we are only on our journey to becoming human.
Spock and Data
rather than the engineers, workers, contractors, inspectors and regulators.
The design was lame from the beginning (the hanging concrete panels had to be an afterthought)
They should have used galvanized steel panels, not multi ton concrete panels, their purpose was air circulation and maintenance, they only had to support the weight of 1 or 2 men.
If they had designed it for concrete panels they would have wrapped threaded rods around the buried tunnel structural rebar (but that would have required pre planning).
The workers were too stupid to say “hey this is an incredibly bad idea”.
The engineers would have been executed in CHina.
The contractors were big political donors and brain dead.
The inspectors were negligent.
Epoxy creep is the last reason the panels fell, nobody AND I MEAN NOBODY has ever or will ever design such a lame structure dependent on vertical rods anchored in epoxy.
It was beyond stupid, Boston has a less than flat learning curve, they still have multi ton concrete ceiling panels bolted to the ceiling, I can see why Ted Kennedy gets re-elected over and over.
Everybody should be prosecuted EXCEPT THE EPOXY MANUFACTURER, had they asked for a consult the epoxy company would have nixed the plan. A 15 year old illegal alien laborer could have seen the folly of this plan.
A car explosion (not an intentional bomb) could send a pressure wave through the tunnel and collapse the whole panel structure for miles killing thousands.
If I were OBL I’d hit this first!
maybe Insurance Journal should delete my last 2 paragraphs of the previous post.