This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.
'The Big Dig' unpacks the legacy of the country's costliest highway project
The Big Dig construction site sits empty near Boston, MA.
Listen
33:57
Whether it’s high-speed rail or highway reconstruction, infrastructure projects in the U.S. are often associated with high price tags and lengthy timelines.
Perhaps no project captures this better than Boston’s Central Artery Tunnel project, more commonly known as the Big Dig.
It’s the nation’s most expensive highway project. And it took more than two decades to plan and build. Towering cranes played a crucial role in its construction, lifting massive steel beams into place with precision.
How can the government more effectively manage infrastructure projects? What lessons can we take away from the decades-long, multi-billion dollar highway project for the future?
GBH News’ “The Big Dig” is a nine-part podcast series exploring those questions and more. Host Ian Coss joins us.
Copyright 2025 WAMU 88.5
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
