Thursday, 4:30 PM
Last remaining section of Big Dig to reopen
By Globe Staff
The only section of the Big Dig that has remained closed since last summer's deadly ceiling collapse is scheduled to reopen early Saturday, according to a statement issued this afternoon by the Patrick administration.
The car-pool lane of eastbound Interstate 90 heading to Logan International Airport will open to traffic at 2 a.m.
"The process of thoroughly examining, remediating and re-inspecting the tunnel's ceiling support system has now been completed," Bernard Cohen, the state transportation secretary, said in a statement. "This was an exhaustive but necessary process to restore public credibility in this project and certify the safety of the tunnel system."
The High Occupancy Vehicle or HOV lane is the last of several sections of the Big Dig that closed after a section of concrete ceiling in the Interstate 90 connector tunnel collapsed on July 10 and killed Milena Del Valle, a passenger in a car on the way to Logan.
Federal and state agencies, including criminal investigators, are investigating the collapse.
According to the administration, the tunnel’s ceiling support system underwent a comprehensive review that included the installation of a new bracket and hanger system to support the concrete panels that hang from the roof of the tunnel.
After the collapse, the tunnels were repaired in phases during a $54 million project that is part of the money that state is trying to recoup from engineers, contractors, and others.
Limited traffic began flowing in east in the tunnel in September 2006. That November, officials reopened a key section of the tunnel system known as Ramp D, which connects the Ted Williams Tunnel to Interstate 93.
In December 2006, the westbound connector tunnel reopened, followed in January by the eastbound connector and Ramp L, which provides a direct link from northbound I-93 to eastbound I-90 toward Logan Airport and Route 1A.
