According to National Park Service, the Big Dig excavated more than 16 million cubic yards of soil, creating a problem of where all that material should go. Almost a quarter of all the soil removed during the Big Dig was sent to the island. The material helped change the shape of Spectacle Island and played a major role in its environmental restoration.Spectacle Island had a very different history before the Big Dig soil arrived. Plant species were also selected carefully with the aim of restoring the island's natural ecosystem.As the plants grew, the appearance of Spectacle Island changed. Coyotes, deer and raccoons are also spotted on the island from time to time.The Big Dig itself also changed Boston beyond its tunnels and roads.