A Drill Not Named Bertha Got Stuck in Seattle

A drill named Pamela, tasked with digging the tunnel for the Sound Transit light rail extension from Husky Stadium to Northgate, was stuck in the dirt under Seattle for several months.

1 minute read

February 12, 2016, 1:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell

"Another Seattle tunnel machine has been damaged, and spent six weeks going no where," reports Mike Linblom. "This time, a Sound Transit drill nicknamed Pamela, halted some 650 feet north of the future University District Station on Dec. 28 and was out of service until Thursday, according to Sound Transit."

The light rail route in question will eventually connect Husky Stadium to Northgate. Farther South on the line, Sound Transit recently made big, positive news by announcing that it would open a light rail extension between Capitol Hill and Husky Stadium on-time and under budget. Those plans are not impacted by Pamela's recent delay. According to Lindblom, "the four-mile extension from Northgate to Husky Stadium is still likely to open in 2021, as scheduled, on the $1.9 billion budget."

The article also includes an update on the city's other tunnel boring machines, including Brenda, which "has already passed the U District Station, heading south toward Husky Stadium." The infamous Bertha is idle once again, after a sinkhole opened near its path in January.

FULL STORY: Another Seattle tunnel drill (not Bertha) damaged, needs repair

Thursday, February 11, 2016 in The Seattle Times

Transportation Washington Seattle Pamela Sound Transit Light Rail Extension Transit Transit Service Bertha View More

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