Daniel J. McNichol papers

In 1993, Daniel McNichol was hired by the Massachusetts Highway Department: Central Artery/Tunnel and Contractors Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff serving in several positions, including Deputy Director for Public Affairs and spokesperson for the “Big Dig” project. As spokesperson, McNichol interacted with numerous news and media agencies such as the BBC, Discovery Channel, and The New York Times. He left the project in 2000 in order to write his first book, The Big Dig. The book detailed the construction and technological aspects of the project and its politics and effects upon the community. Photographer Andy Ryan provided photography for the book. He published his second work, The Big Dig at Night, the subsequent year, documenting the hazardous third shift with photography by Stephen SetteDucati. A third book, The Big Dig: Trivia Quiz Book, was published in 2002.

As an author and journalist McNichol has published numerous articles and works related to engineering and construction. He has appeared on programs such as ABC World News Tonight, BBC, CBS News, CNN, Discovery Channel, Fox News, History Channel, MSNBC, and National Public Radio. In 2008, he was awarded the Construction Writers Association's Robert F. Boger Award for chronicling Minnesota's disastrous Interstate 35 West bridge collapse.

The Central Artery/Tunnel Project, known as the “Big Dig,” was a Massachusetts Department of Transportation construction project aimed to reduce traffic congestion and improve the environment in Boston, Massachusetts. Initial planning and environmental impact studies began in 1982. In April 1987, the United States Congress approved federal funding for the project, allotting $755 million for fiscal year 1990. Construction started in September 1991, and the first major milestone was reached in 1995 with the opening of the Ted Williams Tunnel to commercial traffic. Substantial completion of the project was reached on January 13, 2006: the deteriorating six-lane Interstate 93 John F. Fitzgerald Expressway had been replaced with the eight-to-ten-lane state of the art Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. Tunnel, the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill and Leverett Circle Connector Bridges over the Charles River were added, Interstate 90 was extended to Logan International Airport and Route 1A with the addition of the Fort Point and Ted Williams Tunnels, and more than 300 acres of open land reconnecting downtown to the waterfront was created as a result.

1986

Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff begins work as management consultant

1987

Congress approves funding and scope

1988

Archaeological surveys begin

1990

Congress allocates $755 million

1991

Ted Williams Tunnel construction begins

1992

$1 billion in design and construction contracts in progress

1993

Daniel McNichol is hired by Massachusetts Highway Department: Central Artery/Tunnel and Contractors Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff

1995

Ted Williams Tunnel opens

1998

Charles River Crossing construction begins

2000

Daniel McNichol leaves project

2002

Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge completed

2003

Interstate 93 Northbound and Southbound opens

2004

Interstate 93 John F. Fitzgerald Expressway dismantled

2005

Interstate 93 full opening

2006

Spectacle Island Park opens to the public