The Central Artery/Tunnel Project (CA/T Project) in Boston, Massachusetts, commonly known as the “Big Dig,” is the largest, most complex and most costly highway project to date in U.S. history. Observed, studied, and highlighted at various meetings and conferences in the construction and engineering community (nationally and internationally) for years, the Big Dig is now known among the general populace as a result of a highly-publicized tragedy this past July.

On July 12, 2006 a woman was crushed under massive concrete slabs that fell on top of her vehicle inside one of Boston's new tunnels –– her husband, the driver, survived; however, she did not. The Massachusetts' attorney general declared the accident site a crime scene and opened an ongoing investigation. On August 30, the family of the tunnel accident victim filed a lawsuit against the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and against the prime project management team.

Public confidence in the “Big Dig” has been eroding over the past several years due to various investigations by federal and state inspectors general and by the news media that have underscored the extreme cost overruns and related problems. Generally, it can be said that people in Boston have been more favorable toward the major project than those taxpayers in other areas of the United States that will derive little, if any, benefit from the project. However, since July's tragedy, criticism of the project has peaked.

The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority (MTA) is the primary owner with responsibilities for overseeing both the highway and park construction elements of the project. However, the joint venture team of Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff (B/PB) had a particularly significant role throughout this major project and, not unexpectedly, has received substantial criticism for many of the problems relevant to the “Big Dig.” Most recently, in particular, B/PB has been the subject of angry outcry regarding the tragedy. Needless to say, the two companies are waging costly legal and public relations campaigns in attempts to extricate themselves from ongoing investigations, pending lawsuits, financial damage, possible charges of criminal negligence and, of course, damage to each firm's reputation.

For the time being Bechtel, with a 2005 revenue of $18.1 billion, remains the nation's largest construction and design management business, according to Engineering News-Record . The impact of recent events and the outcome of the attorney general's investigation remain to be seen.