Sheet metal panel falls in Callahan Tunnel

BOSTON (WHDH) -- A sheet metal panel came crashing down into the left lane of the Callahan Tunnel on Friday. No one was hit, but drivers were left shaken.

Traffic was backed up during the busy rush hour right before the holidays when the left lane was quickly shut down.

Inspectors from the Department of Transportation say supports behind the panels in the tunnel have rotted. Other panels have come down in the past.

The thought only adds to the headache for people who say Boston’s bridges and tunnels have already given them enough to worry about.

“Every time I go through there I worry about my safety,” said one woman.

Back in 2006, a woman was killed when part of the ceiling came collapsed in a Big Dig tunnel.

Since then, problems with falling lights have frightened drivers.

“I don't think they did a good job. That’s the problem over there,” one man said.

The DOT says it plans to work on the Callahan Tunnel next year. But some drivers say, with the “writing on the wall,” it's time to get started.

“That's very frightening. Very frightening. I think they need to get going on taking care of that,” another woman said.

Inspectors took three additional panels off the tunnel wall as a precaution. Both tunnel lanes reopened Friday night.