While we assume that not everyone who planned the Big Dig were drinking at the time they did it, the news that the design prevents inspection of the bolts makes us wonder. Casey Ross at the Herald (who is afire lately with the MBTA ride-hide story) reports that not enough crawl space exists around the bolts. Even if inspectors wanted to check the ceiling bolts, they couldn't fit:

The tunnel’s design blocks access to 4,000 bolts clustered around its portals, where the space is too narrow for inspectors to conduct visual examinations. That represents one-fourth of the 16,000 bolts holding up the tunnel’s ceiling system, officials said.

How are we supposed to react to this news? Sigh with relief that it affects only one-fourth of the bolts? Or demand that someone attach a camera to a snake's head an let it loose in the space around the bolts?

Then again, maybe not. We don't need to see "Snakes on the Big Dig." The situation is rough enough as it is.

Image of Brigham's Big Dig ice cream flavor from the Brigham's website.