VIADUCT CLOSURE, DAY 4: Almost twenty percent of the way

Bertha_progress_ring14

11:49 AM: We’re just off what will likely be a daily media conference call with WSDOT and others as the Highway 99 tunneling closure of the Alaskan Way Viaduct continues. Topline: The tunneling machine has now made it through 78+ feet of the 380+ feet that it will take to get to the other side of the underside of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, and that’s getting close to twenty percent of the way, points out WSDOT’s deputy program administrator, Dave Sowers. Its cutterhead is indeed beneath The Viaduct, between columns 98 and 97, to be specific.

12:06 PM: WSDOT asked reporters to hold off on most technical tunneling questions until tomorrow’s conference call, when they expect to have contractor Seattle Tunnel Partners represented on the call. So that left traffic. They’ve made “a lot of little adjustments,” said a WSDOT traffic engineer, not only the ones mentioned in yesterday’s online progress report – more parking restrictions on 4th to keep more of the roadway open for traffic flow, and protected left-turn signals on 1st at Horton and Hanford – but also changes in signal timing today on 1st and 4th.

Aside from the Water Taxi numbers we’ve been reporting firsthand from Seacrest today, they don’t have any other data yet on how many more people are using transit, but, said Jon Layzer of SDOT, they are “trying to get information.” Overall, the assessment: “So far, progress is encouraging at the moment,” but they say it’s too soon to try to estimate or speculate whether the under-the-Viaduct tunneling will be done early, on time, or otherwise.

8:45 PM: The evening tunneling update is up – 91 feet now, and 14 rings. Next update, around 4 am, and WSDOT plans to continue updating one to three times a day here. We have updated the graphic atop this story to the WSDOT map that shows the new numbers.

9 Replies to "VIADUCT CLOSURE, DAY 4: Almost twenty percent of the way"

  • Alyxx Berg May 2, 2016 (11:56 am)

    Help me math this, someone. Does that mean they are on target for 2 weeks (assuming they don’t shake loose the whole structure), or will there be yet another endless delay?

    • WSB May 2, 2016 (12:10 pm)

      Alyxx, they are not running at the same continuous speed so averages do absolutely nothing. They very specifically said today (I am still adding to the story) that it’s too soon to say if they’ll be finished on time, early, or what.

  • M May 2, 2016 (12:50 pm)

    Biked across the lower bridge at 11 am.  The cycle count was already at 1100 riders.  That is the highest that I have ever seen at that time in the morning even during peak summer days.

    • WSB May 2, 2016 (12:53 pm)

      Thanks for mentioning that! In the next couple days we’ll have to break away from the water taxi dock and go photograph the wheeled commute.

  • cjboffoli May 2, 2016 (1:13 pm)

    Imagine what a PR coup it would be for STP and WSDOT if they could safely and efficiently finish their 385 ft. run ahead of schedule.  On the other hand, heading into the heart of one of Seattle’s earliest rubble/garbage dumps might unearth some unpleasant surprises.

  • sc May 2, 2016 (1:23 pm)

    Is there a monetary bonus for the tunneling crew if they finish ahead of schedule?  ; )

    • chemist May 2, 2016 (3:00 pm)

      I think finishing early was one of the big motivators that STP was chosen.   Oops.

      http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/dec/11/tunnel-bid-victor-vows-early-finish/

      Both were just under the state’s $1.09 billion price limit. The winner,
      Seattle Tunnel Partners, bid slightly higher than rival Seattle
      Tunneling Group but was chosen in part because it proposes to open the
      tunnel by the end of 2015 and make it 58 feet in diameter, about 2 feet
      more than the state had expected.

  • supernova72 May 2, 2016 (2:34 pm)

    I’m keeping the faith that Bertha is picking up speed!  6.5 feet on Friday and now we and see improvements in progress.  I’m told my Wed they will add a turbo with intercooler (just kidding).

  • dsa May 2, 2016 (2:55 pm)

    Since Bertha should still be diving, the south approach to the viaduct would seem to be the closest encounter to piling, which they are calling foundation.

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