New mess at troubled Government Center garage project triggers T closures
The MBTA is calling out hometown real estate giant HYM Investment Group and its $1.5 billion redevelopment of the Government Center garage for the sudden shutdown of T service in a key section of downtown Boston.
In a statement, T officials said Thursday evening they had halted Green and Orange line service in the tunnels beneath the Government Center garage. T officials said they made the decision after being informed by HYM that the garage’s support columns, which extend down through the T tunnels underneath the structure, are “severely deteriorated.”
MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak wasted no time pointing the finger at HYM, contending the real estate investment firm, headed by former City Hall development chief Tom O’Brien, would be on the hook to pay for “all costs associated with the event.”
As part of its multi-year Bulfinch Crossing project, HYM has been taking down sections of the sprawling, 1960s-era Brutalist-style concrete garage, freeing up space for new development, with two new towers built so far.
“This service disruption as a result of HYM’s project is unacceptable and the MBTA will seek to hold HYM Construction accountable,” Poftak said.
Meanwhile, the T closures near Haymarket Station come less than three months after a construction worker was killed when a section of the Government Center garage suddenly collapsed during demolition work.
That accident led to a temporary halt in construction on the Bulfinch Crossing project and the closure of the T tunnels underneath the garage, which were later reopened after a series of safety inspections.
Stay tuned. This is a breaking story and we will have more details and analysis on it in the next edition of CB.