JASON RANTZ

Sprinkler malfunction closes Battery Street Tunnel after WSDOT claimed fix

Oct 15, 2015, 11:28 AM | Updated: 1:10 pm

The Battery Street Tunnel in Seattle was once again shut down on Wednesday night. (Seattle Department of Transportation)

(Seattle Department of Transportation)

Update from WSDOT: The broken sprinkler part will be delivered in two weeks. Installation and testing should be completed within a month.

—Original story—

Two days after explaining the broken regulator behind the aging sprinkler system won’t be a nuisance again, the Battery Street Tunnel was once again shut down. The culprit? That aging sprinkler system that wouldn’t be a nuisance again.

Just this past Sunday evening, around 5:30 p.m., the tunnel’s sprinkler system was activated, causing an hour-long closure of Highway 99. It was the fourth such closure in just a six month period.

Related: The Bertha blame game begins

On Monday, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) assistant regional administrator Dave McCormick, explained that they found the issue with the system and it was being addressed.

When asked if people should expect another sprinkler malfunction, McCormick told KIRO-TV, “No, I’m pretty sure we’ve got this taken care of.”

WSDOT does not have this taken care of.

Last night, around 10:30 p.m., the tunnel was shut down again. Both WSDOT and the Seattle Department of Transportation confirm that the sprinklers were activated, causing the shutdown. They had few other details.

To be fair, the sprinkler system is aging, and as we reported this week, had Bertha not broken down and the viaduct replacement was on schedule, the Battery Street Tunnel would have been decommissioned. But it’s safe to say when you tell the public this issue has been addressed, then less than two full days later the problem recurs, you’ll have some egg on your face.

It remains unclear what activated the sprinklers this time, but neither WSDOT nor SDOT explained it was due to anything other than another malfunction.

Jason Rantz on AM 770 KTTH
  • listen to jason rantzTune in to AM 770 KTTH weekdays at 3-7pm toThe Jason Rantz Show.

Jason Rantz Show

Jason Rantz

Burien lawsuit...

Jason Rantz

Exclusive: City of Burien sues King County for breaking contract in homeless camping ban

The City of Burien filed a lawsuit against King County for its refusal to enforce a homeless camping ban that was lawfully adopted.

3 hours ago

Image: The Stevens County Sheriff's Office says it recently received an odd call from a Sasquatch h...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: Sheriff’s office asked legality of hunting Sasquatch in Stevens County

A Sasquatch hunter had an interesting question for the Stevens County sheriff. Is it legal to hunt Sasquatch?

20 hours ago

Image: Children bike past Wilson Elementary in Spokane....

Jason Rantz

Rantz: ‘Racist’ Spokane elementary school’s ‘slaves and hobos’ ignites controversy

After a teacher told students they could dress as "slaves and hobos" for an event, the Spokane NAACP cried foul.

2 days ago

Images: At left, Bellevue Police Department Officer Kevin Bereta is seen in his uniform. At right, ...

Julia Dallas

Bellevue officer injured in VP Harris motorcade recalls road to reclaiming benefits

Bellevue Police Officer Kevin Bereta's life changed while he was on VP Kamala Harris' service detail during her visit to Washington.

2 days ago

permanent supportive housing...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: You’re being lied to about permanent supportive housing in Redmond

Redmond residents rightly push back against permanent supportive housing as a solution for the homeless, as Seattle media get in the way.

3 days ago

WA State Attorney General Bob Ferguson campaigning.  (Photo by Karen Ducey/Getty Images)...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: On crime, Bob Ferguson campaign made its first massive blunder

The Bob Ferguson campaign wants you thinking his top priority is crime. His entire political history says otherwise.

4 days ago

Sprinkler malfunction closes Battery Street Tunnel after WSDOT claimed fix