FBI probe of Boston's 'Big Dig' a priority

BOSTON, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- The FBI is digging deep into Boston's $15 billion Big Dig project, looking for public corruption and whether officials ignored crucial inspections.

The mega-project to reroute the major controlled-access highway through the heart of Boston into a 3 1/2-mile tunnel under the city is now a high FBI priority, an FBI official said.

Project mismanagement is blamed for the death of 38-year-old motorist Milena Del Valle, who died July 10 when concrete ceiling panels collapsed in the tunnel.

The public corruption investigation "is the highest criminal priority we have," said Ken Kaiser, special agent in charge of Boston's FBI Bureau.

Kaiser said top agency officials in Washington were monitoring the investigation and have pledged additional resources, the Boston Herald reported.

The federal probe is running parallel to a state investigation being led by Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly, who plans to convene a special grand jury Oct. 3 to pursue criminal charges in the death of Del Valle.