Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced May 14 that her office has collected $58.5 million in excess profits plus interest from NYC-based American International Group, Inc. AIG provided workers compensation insurance for the Central Artery/Tunnel project, which included a residual market mechanism for high risk employers. The state was to reimburse AIG for any losses while AIG would pass back surplus money. The surplus came from the difference between worker premiums and injury claims reported on the project. The $58.5-million total represents $26 million in money that AIG owed the state, plus interest, Coakley's office said.

The cash is welcome relief for the CA/T whose final cost could rise another $333 million to almost $15 billion due to repair costs and final surface treatment work, and possible additional construction claims payouts. "When the books are closed we believe that we will still be in the neighborhood of $14.6-billion," says Jon Carlisle, CA/T spokesman. "The $333-million figure is an absolute worse case scenario that does not assume any cost recovery or ongoing claims settlements."