Posted on 05/08/2014 5:57:18 PM PDT by Veto!
By Dan SpringerPublished May 08, 2014FoxNews.comFacebook476 Twitter508 Gplus0
At 57 feet in diameter, it's touted as the world's biggest tunneling machine. It was even given a name, Bertha.
But now, after digging just over 1,000 feet, Bertha is broken down and stuck underneath Seattle's downtown waterfront.
And fixing the massive mess could cost taxpayers millions.
The tunneling machine is the key workhorse in a $3.1 billion tunnel project aimed at replacing the Alaska Way Viaduct, a double-decker elevated highway that was damaged in the 2001 Nisqually earthquake. Bertha's meltdown, though, has put the project in jeopardy of being the West Coast version of the biggest public works boondoggle in U.S. history,
Read on for the unbelievably stupid details…..
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
And it would have been done already. But NoooOOOooo.
Used to spend lots of time in Bremerton about 15 years ago. Right when they were getting started on all that. And it was depressing.
Spending a lot of time around there these days and it's an amazing transformation. It's gorgeous.
Glad to hear it. I left in 2011, and sold my 2 duplexes in Bremerton and higher-end home in Poulsbo all in the past 5 months.
I liked working with Patty Lent on issues from time to time, and am still "friends" with her on FB and chat about the goings on. She's a good mayor and I hope she continues to do good things for the city.
Re: “The people of Seattle voted down the elevated monorail.”
Jack, you forgot the best part of that story.
We voted down the Monorail extension.
But, we voted in favor of KEEPING the new tax that was supposed to pay for it!
Re: “Did the contractor not have someone walking the drill path?”
The cutting wheel makes the path, and it’s too huge back up.
Only one gear - forward.
There is no extra space in front, on top, on bottom, or on the sides.
Bertha has never run up to spec.
Just cutting the first 1000 feet took many months longer than planned.
In theory, Bertha should have been able to grind that pipe into pieces.
As I recall, it’s only a 6 inch pipe.
One of the owners of the construction company joint venture is the husband of Diane Feinstein
You have my permission to do so, at your convenience!
BTW, my poem reveals that I am a believer in Murphy’s Law, a variation of which can be found in our Pop Culture as follows:
“Let’s keep throwing money at the problem until it goes away. After all, what could POSSIBLY go wrong?”
BTW, BTW, thanks for the kind words on my “poetry.” I use poetry as a shorthand method of delivering my HUMBLE, but usually correct, opinion. False modesty prevents me from saying more - - - - .
Goodness! LIBs truly are mentally ill.
You like to watch excitement.
There you go, the connection to corruption at the top. Probably just one of them.
No chance of being in that tunnel for the next 50 years. Not going to get built, ever.
You're repeating yourself.
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