Cheaper, faster path led to failure

Ceiling design was weakened

Transportation Secretary John Cogliano inspected supports above the ceiling in the Interstate 90 connector tunnel last month.

By Scott Allen and Sean P. Murphy

Globe Staff / December 24, 2006

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Construction engineer John Tsikouras suspected that the salesmen were not telling him the whole story. The men from Newman Associates, a bolt distribution company, approached him in August 1999 and said they wanted his professional advice about a tunnel ceiling that was part of Boston's Big Dig. But Tsikouras said their questions seemed intended to get the Rhode Island engineer's ... (Full article: 4193 words)