MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Bertha begins again: Boring machine is moving toward viaduct

Apr 29, 2016, 12:13 PM | Updated: 12:25 pm

bertha, seattle, tunnel, mammoet...

Mammoet was give a Job of the Year award for lifting Bertha's massive boring head out of the ground. (WSDOT)

(WSDOT)

Bertha has already begun boring forward toward the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

Related: Bertha’s tight schedule to tunnel under the viaduct

Crews fired up the boring machine at 9 a.m. Friday morning. Bertha has to first dig through about 10 feet of concrete to exit the maintenance pit. The machine is right at the doorstep of the viaduct. It will soon be digging into the soil around Yesler and Alaskan Way.

Crews are working around the clock as the machine moves ahead. Not only are they installing rings to form the tunnel, but Bertha continues to go under maintenance operations while it is boring.

You can track Bertha’s movement here.

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Bertha begins again: Boring machine is moving toward viaduct