Mass. “Big Dig” chair to step down after collapse

BOSTON (Reuters) – The embattled director of Boston’s “Big
Dig” tunnel program said on Thursday he was resigning his post,
effective August 15, a spokesman for Massachusetts Gov. Mitt
Romney said.

Massachusetts Turnpike Authority Chairman Matthew Amorello
has been under heavy criticism since a three-ton slab of tunnel
ceiling tore loose on July 10, killing a 38-year-old woman and
forcing the closure of the 7.8-mile tunnel system.

Eric Fehrnstrom, Romney’s spokesman, told reporters that
Amorello would step down. Officials at the Massachusetts
Turnpike Authority did not immediately respond to phone calls
for comment. The move came hours before a hearing was scheduled
in which Romney planned to try to remove Amorello from office.