MYNORTHWEST NEWS

WATCH: How much of Bertha is still standing?

Jul 14, 2017, 4:56 PM | Updated: Jul 17, 2017, 12:08 pm

Bertha is halfway gone as crews are still tearing the machine apart piece-by-piece underneath Seattle.

RELATED: The work that remains after Bertha is done with the tunnel

The massive boring machine’s cutterhead has entirely been removed from the disassembly pit at the north end of the recently constructed tunnel. But the portion of the machine still inside the tunnel is taking longer to tear down. About half of Bertha remains — originally an 8,000 ton machine.

A flurry of purple and white sparks fly inside the tunnel as crews cut through the machine’s steel parts. Each piece is removed out the south end of the passageway.

The roadway inside the new SR 99 tunnel continues to be constructed as the machine is disassembled. The two-level roadway is expected to open in 2019.

MyNorthwest News

Minneapolis shooting...

TIM SULLIVAN and MARK VANCLEAVE, The Associated Press

2 people were killed and suspect is dead in downtown Minneapolis shooting

Two people were killed, and the suspect is dead after a shooting in a downtown Minneapolis apartment building.

22 minutes ago

85 Cats Tacoma...

Frank Lenzi

More than 100 cats seized from Tacoma home in ‘rough condition’ after welfare check

At least 85 cats were seized from a Tacoma home this week after officers responding to a routine welfare check discovered the animals.

1 hour ago

Chelan Hills Fire...

Julia Dallas

18-year-old arrested in connection with deadly Chelan Hills Fire

An 18-year-old man from Kent was arrested in connection with the Chelan Hills Fire, KIRO 7 reported Wednesday.

3 hours ago

dui port orchard crash...

Jason Sutich

Port Orchard woman arrested for suspected DUI after rolling SUV, fleeing scene, asking stranger for ride home

A 24-year-old woman from Port Orchard was arrested on suspicion of DUI Tuesday after driving her car into a ditch and rolling it over.

4 hours ago

tacoma layoff housing slump...

Jason Sutich

Tacoma loses 120 jobs as Georgia-Pacific shuts down manufacturing plant, citing housing slump

A bath tissue manufacturer, Georgia-Pacific, is departing from Tacoma as the company announced its shutting down its facility and laying off 120 employees.

5 hours ago

king county assessor john arthur wilson restraining order...

MyNorthwest Staff

King County Assessor John Wilson violated ethics code 4 times, ombuds report finds

Criminal charges against King County Assessor John Wilson have been dropped after his ex-fiancée declined to cooperate.

5 hours ago

WATCH: How much of Bertha is still standing?