Seattle’s Sound Transit is rethinking its names for two of its tunnel-boring machines after the issues a third tunnel-boring machine, Bertha, has been having in the city.
Sound Transit’s two other boring machines — Brenda and Pamela — are going to be named Tunnel Boring Machine 1 and Tunnel Boring Machine 2, according to the Seattle Times.
The reason, according to the paper, is because Sound Transit is worried about people mixing up the machines responsible for drilling light rail tunnels with the much larger machine that has been plagued with problems in downtown Seattle.
Sound Transit’s work on the light rail tunnels is reportedly on schedule.
Bertha Gets Some Tools Replaced
Seattle Tunnel Partners (STP) has completed more than 100 shifts of hyperbaric work inside the SR 99 tunneling machine — also known as Bertha. One of their biggest tasks was to inspect and replace cutting tools on the machine’s face.
Since most of the machine’s tools were replaced during the repair effort, STP chose to replace only 11 of the more than 700 tools they inspected in the weeks since the machine reached its planned maintenance stop.
STP still has some routine maintenance to complete and will soon be ready to tunnel beneath the Alaskan Way viaduct.
Man Rescued After Trench Collapse
A man had to be airlifted to the hospital after authorities say a trench collapsed around him April 12 in Suamico, Wisconsin.
Officials say the man was installing drainpipes when the ground collapsed around him and he was buried up to his chest, according to WLUK TV in Green Bay. Reports say it took firefighters 20 minutes to dig him out.
The man was conscious and alert, but was having difficulty breathing when he was freed. It was not known what injuries the man suffered or if shoring devices were used.
