Engineers Looking for Possible Big Dig Sinkhole in Boston; Chemically Frozen Ground Near Fort Point Channel is Thawing

BOSTON (AP) — State contractors are boring into the ground in an effort to determine whether a sinkhole has formed under a Big Dig tunnel and if so, how to plug it.

Highway officials revealed the existence of the possible sinkhole several months ago but said it posed no public safety risk.

While constructing the Interstate 90 Connector Tunnel more than a decade ago, Big Dig engineers chemically froze some of the ground near the Fort Point Channel to prevent it from caving in or leaking. Officials expected the ground would eventually thaw and slowly begin to settle, but they were surprised to discover that the rate of settling was about an inch a month.

Contractors plan to dig four, 135-foot-deep holes and take samples of earth they hope will reveal the extent of the problem.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.

Related posts:

1. Occupy Boston Protesters Hold Their Ground Despite 100 Arrests
2. CDC: 1 Death, 76 Illnesses linked to Ground Turkey; Reported Illness In Mass.
3. Boston Police Arrest 50 from Occupy Boston
4. Governor Patrick Breaks Ground on Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Center for Science and Innovation
5. Report: Facebook Plans to Expand New Headquarters

Short URL: http://www.newenglandpost.com/?p=5996