The Massachusetts Highway Department, Federal Highway Administration and the CA/T project leaders agreed that an independent review team of internationally recognized experts in the design of long span bridges would be appropriate for the Charles River Crossing. This decision was based on several factors:

• The unique nature of the Charles River Crossing cable-stayed bridge
• The numerous engineering innovations required
• The bridge’s location in a densely developed urban corrider
• The importance of the bridge to all the agencies involved and the community it will serve.

The purpose of this review was to evaluate solutions arrived at during the type study and preliminary design processes.
The independent review team of experts included:

• Robert Cassano, Chairman of the review team and Retired Director of Bridges, CALTRANS
• Frank Sears, Retired Federal Highway Administration Chief, Bridge Review and Analysis Branch
• Michael Virlogeux, Project Director for the Normandie Bridge, France
• Professor Rene Walther, University of Lausanne in Switzerland and Past President of the International Society of Bridge and Structural Engineers
• Dr. John Clark, Seattle, who has considerable experience in cable-stayed bridges starting with the Pasco-Kennewick Bridge in Washington state
• Stanley Jarosz, expert on cable supported structures and engineer of record for Luling Bridge in New Orleans, Louisianna.

The team met in December of 1994 for one week and made a detailed evaluation of the project documents, which included the Environmental Impact Statement, project commitments, the Type Study and preliminary plans. The team also addressed the issues of shear lag, torsion and constructibility.

When the evaluation was concluded, the team gave their unqualified approval to the effort undertaken by PB for design of the Charles River Crossing.