John Cogliano

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Cogliano was Transportation Secretary on July 10, 2006, when a concrete ceiling panel weighing 3 tons (2722 kg) and measuring 20 by 40 ft (6.1 by 12.2 m) fell in on a car traveling Boston's Fort Point Channel Tunnel, killing a passenger and injuring the driver.

After the collapse, Cogliano chose to hire Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff, the company that was responsible for overseeing the original construction of the tunnel, to inspect the repairs. [5] The hiring of Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff resulted in an inquiry from the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Transportation. Cogliano admitted that he regretted reusing the firm and the state promised not to hire any Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff employees to work on repairs in the I-90 tunnel. [6]

As a result of the collapse, Massachusetts Turnpike Authority Chairman Matthew J. Amorello was forced to resign and Cogliano succeeded him while retaining his job as Transportation Secretary. Cogliano remained Turnpike Chairman until July 1, 2007, when he was succeeded by State Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen. [7]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Preer, Robert (June 12, 2005). "What he watched, he now oversees". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  2. Daniel, Mac (May 3, 2005). "Romney Names New Transportation Chief". Boston Globe. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  3. The Executive Office of Transportation Biography of John Cogliano Archived 2006-09-27 at the Wayback Machine 2006
  4. State Transit Secretary Quietly Begins Shake Up to Cut Costs The Boston Globe August 31, 2005
  5. Ross, Casey (October 27, 2006). "Mitt passes buck on Bechtel hiring ; Blames Cogiliano for `mistake'". Boston Herald. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  6. Allen, Scott (October 25, 2006). "Official regrets reuse of firm; Big Dig error, Cogliano says". Boston Globe. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  7. Estes, Andrea (June 28, 2007). "Temporary head of MassPike chosen". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
John Cogliano
Chairman of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority
In office
August 16, 2006 July 1, 2007