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The first book ever written about Boston's Big Dig--the largest, most complex highway construction project ever embarked upon in U.S. history! This regional blockbuster reached #1 on the Boston Globe's bestseller list. Filled with dozens of remarkable photos and fascinating archival illustrations, it pulsates with details only an insider like Dan McNichol, former director of the project who was in at the conception, could provide. For example:
When The Big Dig is finally finished, Boston will have over 200 acres of new parks, its skyline will be transformed, and its infamous traffic nightmares will be a thing of the past.
Anonymous
Posted November 30, 2000
The timing of this book is shameless. It's no coincidence this glossy homage to the 'Big Pig' came out as the Cellucci Administration is backpeddling from a year's worth of bad press, following the coverup of nearly $2 billion in cost overruns by an administration official. The photos are awesome and perhaps worth the price of admission, thanks to the stunning work of photographer Andy Ryan. But beware of the words: they are obviously ghost written by Massachusetts Republican PR operatives who are hoping that the impressive design and construction of the Big Dig itself will outshine their incredible mismanagement, which has led to what the Federal Highway Administration has called the greatest breach of federal/state trust in the nearly 50-year history of the Interstate Highway program.
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Posted December 2, 2000
Everyone I know is talking about this book so I bought a copy and I see what they mean. Fantastic pictures - and now my family and I finally understand what this project, that's been in our face for years - is all about. The writer does a great job explaining this amazing construction project that will finally make Boston workable and beautiful again.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 30, 2000
If you don't live in or near Boston, you may not know about The Big Dig. It is the 'largest urban construction project in the history of the modern world.' The task is like putting 'the Panama Canal . . . through New York City.' The project is 'bigger in scale than the Panama Canal or Hoover Dam.' An elevated highway (I 93) through Boston is being replaced by an underground road and the Massachusetts Turnpike is being extended to Logan Airport through a new tunnel. The I 93 crossing of the Charles River is being replaced with a spectacular new bridge that will be the largest cable-stayed bridge in the world. Like an iceberg, 90 percent of The Big Dig in Boston (the Central Artery/Tunnel Project) is underground. Although all of us Boston drivers have been maneuveuring around the project and admiring the cranes, we don't know much about what is going on. This book takes you to where the action has been, is now, and will be in the next five years. I found the book to be fascinating and revealing. If you are like me, you will be glad that you finally learned what The Big Dig is all about. The local press reports have been misleading. Some examples include the rat scare (we were going to be driven out of Boston by all the rats that were unearthed), tales about the Ted Williams tunnel probably being vulnerable to being hit by a passing ship and flooding, and disasters underground related to buildings and roads being undermined. Well, so far, so good. Each press tale has turned out to have a smidgeon of truth and a gas balloon full of hyperbole. I found the story of the difficulties involved in the project and how they were overcome to be fascinating. Advanced construction techniques from around the world are being used in the same project for the very first time. This project has all of the challenges of sending a man to the moon! Here's my trivia list to see if you will learn anything from this book: Did you know that there is a bridge being built underground for the Red Line? What is Black Mayonnaise? How was Spectacle Island affected? Where is the Mother of all Interchanges? Where were oily razor blades found? What is an ITT? Where did soil problems most increase the cost of the project? Did you know that everyone who buys gasoline in the United States has helped pay for the project? We thank you all! After you finish marveling over this remarkable accomplishment, I suggest that you think about what else can be improved in the world. What is absolutely a mess in your life now? How could your life be improved if the mess went away? How can you do that? Assume the best and go after it, and you'll soon have it.
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Posted October 27, 2000
Dan rules!
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Overview
The first book ever written about Boston's Big Dig--the largest, most complex highway construction project ever embarked upon in U.S. history! This regional blockbuster reached #1 on the Boston Globe's bestseller list. Filled with dozens of remarkable photos and fascinating archival illustrations, it pulsates with details only an insider like Dan McNichol, former director of the project who was in at the conception, could provide. For example:
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