Beth A. Bower papers

Beth A. Bower is a historian, archaeologist, archivist, and higher education administrator who has worked in the Boston area throughout her career, focusing on the area’s material history. Bower graduated from Simmons University with a BA in History in 1973, and in 1975 she received her MA in Anthropology from Brown University. Starting in 1979, Bower worked for the Museum of Afro-American History in Boston. Through the museum she completed archaeological and historical investigations for the Southwest Corridor Orange Line project. In 1987, Bower began working for Bechtel/Parsons Brinkerhoff (B/PB), the joint venture that served as the project management company for the Central Artery/Tunnel Project, better known as the "Big Dig.” While at B/PB Bower held several titles in relation to the Big Dig including Project Engineer, External Affairs Manager, and Project Field Engineer. She also worked as an archaeologist on excavations in Boston’s North End and Spectacle Island in Boston Harbor. Bower left Bechtel/Parsons Brinkerhoff in 1996 and has since worked at Suffolk University as Archivist and Moakley Institute Director and at Salem State University in various administrative positions.

The Central Artery/Tunnel Project (CA/T) was a Boston infrastructure project that took place from 1991 to 2007. The project was named after the Central Artery, a portion of I-93 that travels through downtown Boston, and the proposed third tunnel under Boston Harbor, which was named the Ted Williams Tunnel. The project involved moving the elevated Central Artery highway underground and building two new bridges over the Charles River, including the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge. It also created the third harbor tunnel which connected Boston’s Seaport to Logan Airport and extended the Massachusetts Turnpike. Due to the large amount of underground work involved in the project, as well as its sheer size, CA/T became known as the "Big Dig.” Before construction could begin, archaeological digs took place at key sites in the future construction area to look for and recover artifacts that would otherwise be destroyed. These sites included Boston’s North End and Spectacle Island in Boston Harbor. The Ted Williams Tunnel was completed in 1995 and construction of the Zakim Bridge finished in 2002. Moving the highway underground opened up space in downtown Boston that led to the creation of a new park, the Rose Kennedy Greenway. Spectacle Island was built up using the dirt excavated from the project and also opened as a park in 2006.

1982

Planning begins for the Central Artery/Tunnel Project (CA/T) also known as the "Big Dig.”

1986

Bechtel/Parsons Brinkerhoff begins work as the management company for CA/T. Bower is one of their employees on the project.

1987

Federal funding for CA/T is approved.

1987-1992

Bower works as Project Engineer for CA/T. Her work includes contracts for conservation and archaeological services.

1988

Exploratory archaeological digs begin in future construction areas, including on Spectacle Island in Boston Harbor and in the North End.

1991

Construction on the CA/T begins.

1992-1994

Bower switches roles to the External Affairs Manager for CA/T.

1995

Construction finishes on the Ted Williams Tunnel, the third tunnel to go under the Boston Harbor.

1995-1996

Bower works as Project Field Engineer/Claims Analyst for CA/T.

2002

Construction is completed on the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge between Boston and Charlestown.

2006

Spectacle Island Park opens to the public.

2007

The CA/T Project is completed. The "Big Dig” ends.