by Siobhan McIntyre

The representative of Mass. 8th congressional district filed legislation Jan. 11 to extend the national program which currently ensures the mandatory inspection of all highway bridges to include minimum inspection standards for all highway tunnels as well.

Rep. Michael E. Capuano, D, Somerville

“There is no question that national standards should exist for the inspection of all highway tunnels. My legislation simply takes the Nationwide Bridge Inspection program and adds highway tunnels. It is a simple yet effective method of ensuring the safety of highway tunnels nationwide,” said Representative Michael E. Capuano, D, Somerville of the proposed amendment to the National Bridge Inspection Program.

The proposal calls for the establishment, by the Secretary of Transportation, of minimum inspection requirements, including the manner in which inspections are carried out and the maximum amount of time between inspections. In conjunction, the amendment also calls for the establishment of funding for a national certification program for highway tunnel inspectors. This program would establish and ensure the qualification standards of acting inspectors and implement training for future inspectors, he said.

“We currently subject our nation’s bridges to all of these requirements, it is critical that our highway tunnels also receive the same careful scrutiny,” said Capuano.

Others members of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation spoke in support of Capuano’s proposal. The recent, tragic death of Milena Del Valle, after the collapse of a Big Dig tunnel ceiling panel in July, largely inspired the amend-ment. “Congressman Capuano is performing an important service for the country in drawing on the tragic lessons learned in Massachusetts to create a program that will help prevent a repetition of these events,” said Rep. Barney Frank.

Currently, there are no national regulations regarding highway tunnel maintenance; tunnel owners are responsible for the inspection and maintenance of highway tunnels, he said.

“One of the great lessons of the Big Dig is that a lack of oversight and insufficient inspection standards can lead to serious problems in design and construction, and even tragedy. Engineering experts, inspectors and transportation leaders all agree—it’s a simple matter of common sense. Tunnels should be subject to the same rigorous inspection protocol as our bridges. I urge my colleagues to support this long overdue legislative fix that will improve the safety of our tunnels nationwide, and our confidence in them,” said. Rep. Stephen F. Lynch.

As with the current National Bridge Inspection Program, the amendment would require an inventory of all highway tunnel inspection reports. Reports would also detail fol-low up actions enacted after the inspection.

“This legislation takes the much-needed step of standardizing the tunnel inspection process. Ensuring the public’s safety must be our paramount priority, and I welcome the opportunity to join with Congressman Capuano on this important, common sense effort,” said Rep. John F. Tierney.