We were in Detroit for the weekend, and the most frequently asked questions about Boston were "What happened in the Super Bowl?" and "Is that Big Dig thing finally finished?" The latter is easier to answer: No.

The Globe reports today--months after the official ending--that there are some 2,000 tasks of varying importance that have yet to be completed by the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority's contractors. The MTA says that while the Big Dig is functional and 99% done, the remaining items could take 18 months or longer.

The project's budget is almost 15 billion dollars, and the Globe cites an unsigned November MTA memo that maintains there is still "$160 million in 'construction value' to complete."

Yet New Bedford Democratic Senator Mark Montigny remains sunnily optimistic: "This project has been so disastrous. People should assume that the final outcome will be very disappointing at best, and that means it will go on longer than anybody expects it."

Image of Brigham's Big Dig ice cream flavor from the Brigham's website.