Effort underway to save pieces of Bertha
May 15, 2017, 12:35 PM | Updated: 12:44 pm
Crews are cutting pieces of Bertha in preparation of removing the machine from the SR 99 tunnel. (WSDOT)
(WSDOT)
Now that its journey is complete, a think tank is calling for parts of Bertha the boring machine to be put on display.
According The Seattle Times, The Cascadia Center is asking Governor Jay Inslee to save pieces of the tunneling machine.
RELATED: What happens next for Bertha, Seattle’s waterfront tunnel
The Times reports the company that owns the machine said it’s willing to leave pieces behind for artistic or historic displays. Otherwise, some of it will be melted and recycled — possibly by Nucor.
The problem is, someone would have to convince the state, a museum, or a donor to spend thousands of dollars erecting a crane that can lift parts of a truck and position them in a park.
The rear portion of Bertha is expected to be broken down and moved to the south portal of the tunnel. Much of the machine is reusable, including hoses, mechanical arms, and motors.
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