SPRINGFIELD – Frustration was the common theme at a City Council committee of Maintenance and Development meeting conducted at the office of the New North Citizen’s Council.

The purpose of the meeting was to assess the progress, if any, in correcting the water leaks coming thought the roof of the tunnel that connects the North End neighborhood and the Brightwood neighborhood under the German Gerena Community School.

Visible in the section of the tunnel from the school and to the North End entrance are two areas where water was leaking from the ceiling. There is a tarp set up in the council’s office to catch leaking water there.

At the center of the discussion was a letter sent to the mayor’s office on Dec. 8, 2016, that addressed the safety of the bridge that is over the tunnel and is part of I-91. The letter, from State Bridge Engineer Alexander K. Barlow, simply noted the bridge did not require any posting for weight limits. It did not address the fact that water is leaking into the tunnel from the bridge.

Patrick Sullivan director of Parks, Buildings and Recreational Management, said the mayor did not learn of the letter until January and has asked the state to reconsider its findings. Committee Chair Councilor Kateri Walsh said she would like to know if the mayor’s office received a response from the state.

Sullivan noted the city has undertaken several repair projects in the school and the tunnel – it is currently waiting to see if the request for HVAC upgrades for the school has been approved by the Massachusetts School Building Authority – and $9 million has been spent on repairs to the school building and replacing the roof over the past seven years.

The matter of the water leaks is for the state, rather than the city, to resolve, Sullivan added.

“We really need MassDOT [Massachusetts Department of Transportation] to step up,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan said that with the renovation of the I-91 viaduct now “is the perfect times to get this project done.” He added, “We’re very frustrated.”

Jose Claudio of the New North Citizen’s Council said that MassDOT and Department of Public Works representatives should come to a meeting to explain the status.

Maria Perez of the citizen’s council asked how secure is the tunnel. She said people are concerned about the ceiling collapsing because of the leaks.

Claudio added, “They say it’s safe here, but they said the Big Dig was safe and it fell.”