Thursday, January 24th, 2008 — The main management consultant and contractor on Boston’s $15 billion Central Artery/Tunnel Project (Big Dig) has agreed to pay more than $407 million to resolve civil and criminal liabilities in connection with the partial ceiling collapse and other defects in the project. While erasing all criminal charges, the agreement with state and federal authorities does not release the joint management firm, Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff, from liability for any future catastrophic events, if any occur within the next 10 years.