BOSTON -- A new system to support concrete ceiling panels in the Big Dig's Interstate 90 connector tunnel is working, Gov. Mitt Romney told reporters Tuesday.

Romney said crews had been testing the system designed to shore up the failing epoxy bolt anchors of the tunnel ceiling and will begin installing the system immediately.

"We now have two systems for remediating the failed epoxy-based system. One system is the undercut anchor bolt, the other is locking right into steel from the unistrut system that was imbedded into the concrete, wherever that is available," Romney said.

Romney said tests on the new system showed it could support up to 14,000 pounds. The estimated load the supports would have to hold is about 2,000 pounds.

"We are very pleased that the tests were successful and the undercut anchor bolts are working. The pull tests suggest strength well above the required level of load, so we are under way with a technology which has every indication of being effective," Romney said.

Romney said engineers were going to spend the next couple of days going through every epoxy-based joint in the system and making needed repairs.

"That is going to probably take at least the remainder of this week, into the weekend. Hopefully, it will be ready at the beginning of next week," Romney said.

Romney said he hopes to reopen Ramp A -- the ramp that moves traffic on South Boston surface roads into the Ted Williams Tunnel and over to Logan International Airport -- by the end of the weekend or early next week. Romney said if everything goes well with opening that ramp, a ramp on the other side of the tunnel could be opened a week later. Romney said it could be many weeks before the entire tunnel system is reopened to traffic.

"When you have several tons of concrete hanging down above automobiles, you'd expect it to be tested regularly and frequently -- particularly, if the people who were associated with the construction project ever expressed any concern, as apparently they had -- you would have expected regular testing to be going on to see whether there was any slippage at all. And we are still waiting to hear from the Turnpike Authority about what testing they have been doing," Romney said.

A contingency fund within the Big Dig budget is being used for the repairs, but Romney said that he would seek to have the parties responsible for the situation pay for the inspections.

"There are many parties associated with this project, and there are many parties that could be responsible," Romney said. "(Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff) is on top of the list."

Romney said crews from the Executive Office of Transportation are still inspecting other areas of the Ted Williams Tunnel, even though a different kind of support system was used in the ceiling construction.

Milena Del Valle, 38, was killed on July 10 when a 3-ton slab of concrete fell from the tunnel's ceiling, crushing her car. Her husband, Angel, escaped the incident with minor injuries.