Rep. Mike Capuano (D-Mass.) has proposed creating a national highway tunnel inspection program.
A bill introduced by Capuano on Jan. 11 would amend the national bridge inspection program to include minimum standards for tunnel inspections. His action follows the July 10, 2006, death of a vehicle passenger in the Interstate 90 connector tunnel in Boston. She was crushed by falling precast concrete plenum panels. Subsequent investigations revealed that epoxied anchor bolts may have failed. The Massachusetts Turn-pike Authority, which oversees the tunnel, had not inspected the plenum since construction was completed in 2003.