What caused the Boston Big Dig tunnel collapse?
Ava Hall
Updated on April 09, 2026
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Just so, what happened to the Big Dig in Boston?
The Central Artery Tunnel Project, also known as the Big Dig, was plagued with bad press after construction began in 1991. The cost ballooned to $15B, seawater leaked into tunnels and a ceiling panel collapsed onto a car and killed a passenger.
Furthermore, when did the Big Dig collapse? July 10, 2006
Just so, why did the Big Dig fail?
Some failures were due to problems in the construction process, such as the concrete that was not properly mixed, leading to leaks. And some were a combination of design and execution; the ceiling collapse that killed the car passenger was traced to problems in epoxy.
When did the Big Dig start in Boston?
Central Artery/Tunnel Project Milestones
| 1982 | Work begins on Final Environmental Impact Statement/Report (FEIS/R). |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Close to 5,000 workers employed on the Big Dig. |
| 2001 | Construction 70 percent complete. |
| 2002 | Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge completed. |