Big Breakthrough

BERTHA HITS THE FINISH LINE:  Back in July of 2013, we took a field trip down to an information center (Milepost 31, which highlights the people and projects that shaped Pioneer Square, and provides an inside look at the SR 99 Tunnel Project.  We checked out displays all about one of the biggest tunneling projects the world has ever seen, and it was about to happen right here in Seattle where Bertha, a 7,000 ton boring behemoth would work its way underneath Seattle streets and buildings, creating a tunnel which would eventually carry two tiers of traffic through a portion of the city. The photo above shows a shiny, new Bertha ready to get to work.

Measuring 326-feet long and standing 57.5 feet high, the boring machine was supposed to complete its 1.7 mile run in about two years. 

Well, Bertha just reached the finish line yesterday, nearly two years late and millions and millions and millions over budget. There were sinkholes, starts and long, long stops. At one point, her cutting head was pulled off and repaired.  But in the end, Bertha did finally get there!

Here is video from the Washington State Department of Transportation of the moment Bertha broke through.

#BerthaBreakthrough pic.twitter.com/lFwxCVMbl9

— Washington State DOT (@wsdot) April 4, 2017

Now, I don't expect you to spend an hour watching this (especially the beginning, when it's noise and dust), but skip through the video like we did in about three minutes. It's really pretty neat-o. Annabelle noticed a drone in the pit at about the 26 minute mark.

#berthabreakthrough https://t.co/KCL3xxPcmc

— Washington State DOT (@wsdot) April 4, 2017

And here's the coolest video of the bunch, in our opinion.
It's footage from the drone! (No sound, but the sight is neat-o)


The tunnel is still months/years away from being complete, but the rest is 'just' heavy construction now, so it should be pretty straightforward. We look forward to taking a trip through the tube when it opens.