Truck smashes into Big Dig ceiling -- and ceiling wins

February 28, 2008 05:17 PM Email| Comments (0)| Text size – +

By Noah Bierman, Globe Staff

Massachusetts Turnpike Authority director Alan LeBovidge was thrilled this week that a piece of the I-90 connector tunnel survived, almost unscathed, after a truck hauling a big crane smashed into the ceiling.

The trucker had dodged a height restriction, almost, until his load met with the ceiling, causing sparks to fly. He was not injured, but he was ticketed, a turnpike spokesman said.

LeBovidge went to the crash site Tuesday and handed out videos of the crash to reporters on Thursday.

"It's unbelievable," LeBovidge said. "He just cremated himself and the tunnel was solid as a rock."

"It was good to see that this section where he was, was solid."

A fatal ceiling collapse in another portion of the tunnel in 2006 sparked inspections and repairs -- as well as legal and political controversy.

Turnpike spokesman Mac Daniel said the crash happened at about 4:20 p.m. Tuesday in the westbound lanes of the tunnel. There were no suspended ceilings in the area as there were in the section of the tunnel where the collapse occurred, he said.

He said that after the collapse, the entire tunnel was inspected and repairs were made where they were needed. But the ceiling in the area shown in the video never needed to be fixed.

He said the video demonstrated the sturdiness and safety of the tunnel.