Manholes, storm grates have caused previous issues in Mass

BOSTON — It was almost nine years ago, when as many as eight accidents in a month were all caused by loose manhole covers or storm grates.

On Friday, a manhole cover became dislodged on Rt. 93, flew into the air and hit a woman's car. Her car went on to hit a median wall; the driver died.

%

%

MassDOT is looking into what caused the Rt. 93 manhole to become dislodged. In a couple of the 2007 cases, crews had just cleaned and replaced those covers. Engineers said the most common problems is when new covers aren't a perfect fit. However, MassDOT said the Rt. 93 manhole hadn't been worked on recently.

In 2007, one driver was critically injured by a 250 pound storm grate on 128 in Westwood. Other drivers had popped car tires and crashes due to the loose grates and manhole covers.

%

%

The series of problems prompted crews to inspect about 10,000 of those covers statewide. About 50 grates had to be re-welded.

When it comes to manhole covers, it's not "one size fits all." Engineers told FOX25 that covers are often made to go specifically with the casting that surrounds them. If a manhole cover is replaced with one that's just slightly too small, it can begin to rock back and forth and even fly out as cars drive over it.

"It's difficult to detect unless somebody drivers over it and calls it in," said Rich Balgowan, a traffic engineer.

Balgowan said that aging infrastructure can play a role in these type of crashes.

Cox Media Group