Friday, August 2, 2013

Off in a Cloud of Dust!

And a hearty "Hi-Ho Bertha, and away!" Seattle's Tunnel Boring Machine - the largest TBM in the World, began chewing beneath Seattle on Tuesday July 23rd.

On Saturday, July 20th, the Washington State Department of Transportation hosted an open house at the TBM construction pit, allowing taxpayers to see what they got for their money.

Bertha's first challenge, penetrating a 15' thick concrete wall. This has been formed into the entry portal. The lattice-like framework in the background is part of a two-plus mile long conveyor belt, removing tailings from the TBM, delivering them to a nearby pier, to be loaded onto a barge.


A tug will tow the barge to the site of a former quarry, thus becoming, in future geology books "The 'Seattle Formation' located on the Kitsap Peninsula."

While I provided an access portal - SR99 Cams - in the right margin, allowing you to watch the daily progress of re-constructing Bertha, a time-lapse video compresses the two-month assembly process.

As a reminder, don't forget to click the "enlarge" icon on the YouTube video frame to watch the video in full screen mode.

Simply click "Escape" to return to normal size screen.

Here are previous offerings on the World's Largest Tunnel Boring Machine:

Something Heavy This Way Comes
Something Heavy This Way Comes - Conclusion
Unloading Bertha TBM Has Begun
First Ashore
Some Assembly Required!
Some Assembly Required! - Part Two
Some Assembly Required! - Part Three

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