Bill Seeks to Extend Big Dig Claims Up to 10 Years

To that end, secretary of state William Galvin has proposed legislation that would ex10d the statute of limitations on cases the state can pursue regarding possible errors that occurred on the Big Dig from the beginning of the construction of the project until its anticipated completion in 2005. The bill is being filed today by senators Robert S. Creedon Jr. and Michael W. Morrissey.

"After the controversy over the cost overruns came to light there are some questions about the contractors," Brian McNiff, a spokesperson for Galvin, tells GlobeSt.com. "There are gaps in the law that need to be filled." McNiff points out that usually claims against contractors can only be pursued for a "couple of years" but this legislation would give the state up to 10 years. Most of the state's issues have been with the project's manager, Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff. Calls to the company were not returned by press time.

"The hope is that some of the money will be recouped," says McNiff.

A spokesperson for Governor Mitt Romney tells GlobeSt.com that the governor stands behind this legislation. "We are in support of anything that will retrieve taxpayer's money," says Jodi Charles, a spokesperson for Romney. "We want to make sure that any money that can be retrieved for the Big Dig will be."