Comments

1
I had many lulz this section from an early 2014 article about Bertha's breakdown. Slightly optimistic indeed.

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news…
A full repair plan by Hitachi-Zosen, which built the machine, is due in 10 to 14 days, Dixon told reporters at a news conference on Pier 48. A few yards away, the drill known as Bertha is stuck underground near South Main Street.

A Sept. 1 restart would amount to a nine-month stoppage overall.

Dixon himself called the date slightly optimistic. “What we try to do in construction is set a goal and get everybody focused on that,” he said.
3
Also it doesn't inspire confidence that they're planning to look at the machine again just after it passes its warranty-distance. Sounds like they want to limit options for scrapping it if something else goes wrong.
4
If anything, the world's largest wine cellar is taking shape.
5
@3, not really thejrd. Once it goes beyond the warranty-distance, that's STP's problem to fix (if you believe the state has got all their soil condition/maps correctly plotted and communicated).
7
Some guy said the tunnel would be built even if Bertha can't do it. How?
8
3 Safe Havens were built. Those were designed maintenance stops along the tunnel drive. The last one being right before Bertha passes underneath the viaduct and then into the city. It makes great sense that one was built there as that is the last practical location to build one. From that point on any maintenance on the cutter head or in the shield area becomes more difficult.

As for Thom Neff, that is one man's opinion and frankly one with little tunnel boring experience. The vast majority of tunnel engineers believe that this is very doable. Why doesn't the Stranger interview people like Shani Wallis of Tunnel Talk? Is it that they have been against the tunnel from the start and are uninterested in balanced reporting.
9
As someone who opposed the tunnel on two grounds (it was known to be risky and was a dubious project) I sure as hell hope it gets moving. One of the more overlooked aspects of this project is that it would connect Aurora north of Denny (to Thomas). This means you could run a bus like the 8 along, say, Thomas all the way to Eastlake. This could provide very good bus service to South Lake Union from lower Queen Anne, which would be a huge improvement to the area.
10
Dig Bertha dig.

I'm rooting for ya.
11
quit now! sunk cost fallacy! hyperbolic fulminations!
12
A Stranger article about Bertha that's not full of angsty whining? Wow...

Please wait...

Comments are closed.

Commenting on this item is available only to members of the site. You can sign in here or create an account here.


Add a comment
Preview

By posting this comment, you are agreeing to our Terms of Use.