New problems found in Big Dig

BOSTON, July 26 (UPI) -- Officials have new worries about Boston's Big Dig, this time heavy fans hanging above ramps.

Inspectors found Monday that the fans, which weigh several tons, are fastened by the same means as a panel that fell and killed a woman, the Boston Globe reported. The discovery and other problems found by new inspections mean that the tunnels have been closed indefinitely.

The Big Dig is the most expensive and ambitious urban highway project in history, creating underground tunnels to replace an elevated highway that split the city for decades. Even before the death July 10 of Milena Del Valle, cost overruns and delays had made the project an embarrassment to city and state officials.

"There continue to be revelations of new issues, new problems," Republican Gov. Mitt Romney said. "The Ted Williams Tunnel wasn't an issue last week; it is this week. It was only eastbound the day before yesterday; now it's eastbound and westbound. Now, frankly, one of my biggest concerns are these jet fans. These are very heavy."