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From the City & Region staff at The Boston Globe

Update: tunnel reopens after leak

Email|Print| Text size – + By the Boston Globe City & Region Desk
January 27, 07 03:47 PM

By Brian Ballou
GLOBE STAFF

Traffic is flowing freely again through a Big Dig tunnel that was shut down earlier today because of a water leak.

Officials said two sprinker heads likely burst from chilly weather, sending water gushing into a ventilation building above the Thomas P. O'Neill tunnel this morning. The water then seeped down into the tunnel.

Officials shut down Interstate 93 southbound at Exit 20. Traffic was routed out of the exit and a major backup was created north of the city.

Workers vacuumed up the water and the tunnel reopened at about 3 p.m.

John Carlisle, spokesman for the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, said officials didn't anticipate any structural damage because of the leak.

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