Turnpike Board Reviews Big Dig Report

The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority board will examine a report this morning from the Chicago engineering firm that's conducting the expanded stem-to-stern big dig safety review.

The Turnpike Authority would not comment on the report in advance of today's meeting, but leaky big dig tunnels are its subject, according to the State House News Service.

The firm Wiss Janney Elstner found that none of tunnels are dry, and they'll require ongoing maintenance.

But the News Service says the firm found the leakage is safely below national standard levels of concern, and the tunnel pumping activities are more than 100 times greater than the inflow of water.

The state promised in 2004 to close thousands of leaks in the Tip O'neill I-93 tunnels, after a breach flooded and shut down two northbound lanes.

The leaks are blamed on high groundwater levels and poor construction of the tunnels' slurry walls.