Letter: Repairs at Harrison and Berkeley a Sore Spot in South End

Dear editor,

The intersection at Harrison and Berkeley has been dug up at least 6 times per year since I moved to Boston in 2009. There was even an explosion and a flood at this location in recent years. 

The latest big dig started Sunday Nov 25th in the evening at 8pm. (See photo from tonight, Wed 11/28)

The big dig before that was in July- lasting more than 10 days...and..they left a vent pipe in the middle of the road ever since.  Yes, that's right a vent pipe with almost no protection in the middle of the road.  (See photo)

Why? ...Wait... Think about it rationally,.... there is no reason for this other than incompetence by the utilities and city employees.  I can't think of an excuse. Can you?

The utility should pay local residents $50 per day for the inconvenience and noise.  Jack hammering the road long after 11pm for 30 days per year seems a bit, um, excessive?  Do you agree?

The utility should pay the city $10,000 per hour for decreased traffic flow.

The utility should be paying all other expenses, if they are not why not?  

I am all for improving infrastructure - but not continuous repairs - that is fraud.

Also, the work should be completed promptly - why oh why does each of these jobs take 3-10 days? Why do they bring the welders on site every night to cover up the mess with big steel plates, only to start the big dig again at night the next day?

Looking forward to a reply from the Mayor's office and the utility responsible for the majority of these "big dig" fraud events.

William Toll
South End Resident