Discovery of shells halts digging of Bertha access pit
Oct 23, 2014, 6:21 PM | Updated: 8:01 pm
The Washington State Department of Transportation has halted digging for the repair pit to access Bertha – the SR99 tunnel machine – after archaeologists found shell deposits, WSDOT announced late Thursday afternoon.
The shells could be of cultural significance. Under WSDOT protocols for archaeological material, the agency will coordinate with the Federal Highway Administration, tribal governments, and the Washington State Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation to determine next steps.
WSDOT says no artifacts or human remains were found.
WSDOT says crews have now dug about 20 feet of the 120-foot chamber to access the stalled drilling machine machine to begin repairs since digging began last week.
There’s no word on how long the current delay will last. Seattle Tunnel Partners, the contractor for the project, has said it hopes to repair Bertha and resume drilling by next March.
