Heavy trucks barred from using Big Dig bridge

— Federal highway officials have asked the state to restrict heavily laden trucks from using a Big Dig bridge after inspectors found a crack on a concrete support.

State transportation officials said Wednesday that the Leverett Connector Bridge that links the Tobin Bridge with Storrow Drive and Interstate 93 is safe, but federal officials urged them not to allow trucks weighing more than 80,000 pounds to use that portion of the highway, effective immediately.

The crack was discovered by engineers in April during a review of the $15 billion highway project ordered after a July 2006 tunnel ceiling collapse that killed a woman.

Klark Jessen, a transportation department spokesman, says repairs should be complete by Nov. 1.