Ceiling tests can't be faulted, Romney says
Governor says bolts designed to allow for load
Governor Mitt Romney said yesterday he does not believe pull tests used to gauge the safety of ceiling panel connections in the Ted Williams Tunnel caused damage to the bolts being tested, a concern raised by project overseer Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff.
In a memo to the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority's project director, Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff warned that the safety load tests may have damaged the tunnel ceiling by putting too much pressure on epoxy bolts that have been a focus of concern since a July 10 accident in which 12 tons of ceiling panels fell and crushed a motorist to death .
The company, whose work is being reviewed in criminal investigations of the collapse, has not been involved in the recent safety inspections.
``We have some concern that this load may cause damage to the epoxy adhesive that is not readily apparent, but might impact its long-term integrity," Keith S. Sibley, a top official at Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff , wrote in the Aug. 2 memo.
Romney, speaking with reporters at a State House news conference, said he would ``let the engineers talk" about the process, but he felt it was safe.
``The pull tests did not yield failure; they instead were calculated for a specific load -- very carefully -- because they wanted to make sure that if bolts were pulled, they were only pulled to the level that would not yield failure, but would have carried out the weight load that they were designed to carry," the governor said.
``I must admit, at a time like this, Bechtel isn't real credible on safety," he added.
Andy Paven, spokesman for Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff, said Wednesday that in sending the memo, the company's ``sole intent was to make sure the anchors were not inadvertently damaged." 