WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), today responded to the National Transportation Safety Board’s report that a series of failures on the part of Gannett Fleming, Inc., Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff, Powers Fasteners, Inc., Modern Continental Construction Company and the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority led to the death of Melina Del Valle one year ago.

Rep. Markey said, “While many are responsible for the initial mistake of using the wrong epoxy, the greatest tragedy is that nothing was done to fix the tunnel when the problems came to light on at least two occasions in 1999 and 2001. It the best case scenario, these problems would never have happened in the first place, but when they were noticed, it’s outrageous that they were not immediately flagged for action by those responsible for the safety of the driving public.

“As the NTSB recognized, this entire episode clearly shows the need for a greater federal role in overseeing tunnel safety. Congress should act quickly to extend federal inspections to tunnels with a program similar to the National Bridge Inspection Program.”

Rep. Markey is an original co-sponsor of legislation, H.R. 409, introduced by fellow member of the Massachusetts delegation, Rep. Michael Capuano that would extend federal transportation inspection responsibility to highway tunnels.