DORI MONSON

Bertha’s repair should not be celebrated as an accomplishment

Mar 4, 2015, 12:23 PM | Updated: 1:31 pm

Bertha is in the access pit. Workers are preparing to take it apart for repairs. (Photo courtesy of...

Bertha is in the access pit. Workers are preparing to take it apart for repairs. (Photo courtesy of the Washington State Department of Transportation)

(Photo courtesy of the Washington State Department of Transportation)

On Wednesday, the Washington State Department of Transportation announced the SR-99 tunnel boring machine, Bertha, was ready to be disassembled in preparation for repairs in the coming weeks.

Taken from Wednesday’s edition of KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson Show.

It’s funny to see how the Washington State Department of Transportation is pushing this Bertha story.

They’re selling this in the media like a gigantic triumph has been accomplished. Bertha is now in position to be torn apart so it can be repaired.

Related: Bertha to be taken apart in the coming weeks

The broken machine finally got into the rescue pit, so workers can start disassembling it.

It has been idle for most of the last two years now.
It’s inched forward 57 feet in the last couple of weeks to get to the rescue pit.

Now they will take apart Bertha, lift 2,000 tons of its parts and lift them up to the surface for repairs.

The question nobody will answer: So what happens if it breaks down again and it’s under a building in downtown Seattle and you can’t dig this repair pit?

It’s almost like they are hoping it won’t happen, or they’re daring it to happen.

If the machine breaks down again, WSDOT may be thinking, we created the jobs and transferred a couple billion dollars for a project … and we’ll have to start over, so we’ll get billions more for the next fix.

But I still haven’t heard a satisfactory answer for if it breaks down under a building. They have never provided a satisfactory answer to that question.

When you look at the repair pit, and the hundreds of millions spent on this, and now we’re going to roll the dice that it doesn’t happen again … It’s really easy to roll the dice when you’re playing with someone else’s money.

And that’s what makes me the sickest about all of this. You have all of these employees working for the government who don’t care that they’re hundreds of millions over budget. They don’t care they don’t have a plan b if this happens again because it’s only taxpayer money. They’re getting theirs: they’ve created their jobs, they’ve rewarded their big donors, the unions. The developers are happy because they think the viaduct is coming down and their property value is going to explode.

Everybody involved in the project is happy, except for the taxpayers, and we don’t matter as part of the equation.

And now we’re supposed to celebrate because you’re beginning to disassemble the machine for the repair.

They’ve set the bar very, very low with Bertha.

Taken from Wednesday’s edition of KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson Show.

KR

Dori Monson Show

Dori Monson

Dori Monson stage show...

MyNorthwest Staff

Watch: Dori Monson’s ‘What are the Odds?’ stage show

In 2019, Dori Monson hosted a stage show - 'What are the Odds?' - which introduced you to the people who helped shape his improbable career.

1 year ago

Dori Monson welcomes the Moose back to KIRO. Follow @http://twitter.com/Mynorthwest...

MyNorthwest Staff

A collection of the all-time best Dori Monson stories

With the passing of Dori Monson, a collection of some of his top stories to remember all the hard work Dori brought to Seattle.

1 year ago

Alaska, fishing...

KIRO Newsradio staff

Listen: Friends, colleagues offer tribute to KIRO Newsradio’s Dori Monson

All day Monday, KIRO Newsradio's John Curley talked to friends, news makers, and more in tribute to Dori Monson.

1 year ago

Dori Monson Shorecrest...

Dori Monson Show

How to support charities reflecting Dori Monson’s values, passions

In tribute to Dori Monson, learn more about how you can support these three charities which best reflect his values, passions, and advocacy.

1 year ago

From left, Producer Nicole Thompson and KIRO host Dori Monson. (Courtesy of the Monson family)...

MyNorthwest Staff

Broadcasters, politicians, coworkers and friends remember Dori Monson

Dori Monson, a longtime KIRO Newsradio host, passed away Saturday. He is remembered by public figures, broadcasters, coworkers, and listeners.

1 year ago

Dori Monson...

MyNorthwest Staff

Longtime KIRO Newsradio host Dori Monson dies at age 61

We are deeply saddened to announce Dori Monson's sudden passing on Saturday, December 31, 2022, at a Seattle hospital.

1 year ago

Bertha’s repair should not be celebrated as an accomplishment