Final three pieces of tunneling machine safely in the access pit

One of the final pieces of the Bertha TBM being lowered into place

One of the final pieces of the Bertha TBM being lowered into place

The repaired cutterhead has been in the pit several weeks now, and the final three pieces of shielding for the Bertha TBM have been lowered into the access pit. Seattle Tunnel Partners team members will complete the reassembly of the machine, and manufacturer Hitachi Zosen will conduct a series of tests to make sure the TBM is fit to resume tunneling. The most recent STP schedule indicates they expect to resume tunnel boring in the later part of November. [Source: Alaskan Way Viaduct WSDOT. Image: WSDOT]